- As Supreme Court Bars Payment of Allocation To Non-Elected Officials
- Caretaker Chairmen Six-Month Tenure Extension Ends August 16
The Supreme Court judgement barring the Federal Government from paying the monthly statutory allocation to non-elected local government chairmen has sent shivers down the spines of some states, including Osun.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Osun is among the states currently operating its local government system with caretaker management committees instead of elected officials.
The Supreme Court on Thursday while delivering judgement in a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on behalf of the Federal Government, also declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations.
The seven-man panel led by Justice Emmanuel Agim, further declared that a state government has no power to appoint caretaker committees for its local governments, declaring that a local government council is only recognisable with a democratically elected government.
It would be recalled that Governor Ademola Adeleke had on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, inaugurated caretaker management committees for Local Governments, Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), Administrative Offices, and Area Councils in Osun State.
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The caretaker committees were at first expected to last for six months before the state House of Assembly on February 16, 2024, extended their tenure by six months, following a request by Governor Adeleke.
The six-month extension for the caretaker committees is expected to lapse on August 16, 2024, with stakeholders, political gladiators, and residents of the state waiting on what the state government will do, especially with yesterday’s ruling.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the judgement has already caused panic among government officials, with the state planning to hold its local government election next year.
A source close to one of the caretaker chairmen told OSUN DEFENDER that some of the chairmen convoked an emergency meeting to review the judgement and decide the next step ahead.
The source who does not want his name in print because he was not authorised to speak, said the leadership of the caretaker committee will meet Governor Adeleke soon.
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“I can confirm that my boss spoke with some of his colleagues about the judgement and there might be a meeting with the state government very soon to know the next line of action,” the source said.
The medium also gathered that the state government may move the local government elections earlier scheduled for February 22, 2025, forward due to the latest development.
Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on the development, the Chairman of the Committee in Defence Of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Emmanuel Olowu described the judgement as a welcome development that deserves to be celebrated by Nigerians.
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Olowu said most governors are ‘satanic’ and would not like the decision of the apex court, adding that the local governments which have been run aground can now function again.
Speaking on the case of Osun, Oluwo urged the state government to move forward with the local government election if possible.
He also urged other political parties to participate in the upcoming local government election, saying that it should not be a PDP affair.
The CDHR chairman said, “This is a welcome development and a judgement that should be celebrated by Nigerians.
“Most of the governors are satanic. They feed on the local government’s allocation and render them useless but that is gone now.
“I will advise the Osum state government to move forward with the local government election if possible. The only issue with the judgement is that it does not state when the enforcement should start.”
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Efforts to get the reaction of the state government proved abortive as the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Barr. Kolapo Alimi did not pick up his calls.
He did not respond to texts and WhatsApp messages sent to his phone either.
Also, the Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Barr. Hashim Abioye did not respond to text messages sent to his phone.
