The Labour Party leadership has enthusiastically embraced Thursday’s Supreme Court decision affirming fiscal autonomy for local government administration in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, shortly after the verdict.
It was earlier reported by parallelfact that the apex court had granted full autonomy to the 774 local governments in the country as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution (amended).
However, in Thursday’s statement, Ifoh emphasised that the move was long coming.
He said, “We at the Labour Party welcome the Supreme Court decision granting financial autonomy to Local Government Councils in the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory. This decision was long in coming. But as the saying goes, it is better late than never.
READ MORE: JUST IN: Supreme Court Grants LG Financial Autonomy, Bars State Governor from Accessing Funds
“It has put to rest the debate as to whether or not local government areas, which are the closest to the ordinary people, deserve to enjoy some form of autonomy to address challenges facing the masses within their jurisdiction. We can now safely say local government areas have greater freedom to initiate and complete projects which will reduce suffering at the grassroots.
“This autonomy comes with a huge responsibility on local government councils just as councillors now owe their constituents a duty to hold local government chairmen accountable by ensuring prudent management of their resources. The expectation of Nigerians from the local government administration now is simple.
“They each must now take up the challenge of this newfound independence to ensure judicious use of public funds in their custody. We would also like to urge council chairmen not to see the additional inflow of public funds as an opportunity to engage in reckless spending and embarking on white elephant projects which can negate the whole essence of the financial autonomy granted them.”
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