“Today Should Be Democracy Day”: Nigerians React As Supreme Court Grants Full Financial Autonomy To LGAs

Scores of Nigerians have taken to their social media handles to react as the Supreme Court of Nigeria has ruled that the 774 local government areas (LGAs) be given a full financial autonomy across the federation.

Osun Defender reports that a seven-man panel of Supreme Court Justices led by Justice Garba Lawal delivered the ruling on Thursday, July 11, 2024.

The apex Court Initially heard the suit between the federal and State governments on the autonomy of local government on June 13 and its reserved judgment.

The suit marked SC/CV/343/2024 was filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and it sought full autonomy and direct fund allocation to the 774 local government areas (LGAs) in the country.

Fagbemi requested the Supreme Court to order that funds for LGAs managed by caretaker committees appointed by governors, rather than elected chairmen and councillors, be withheld.

However, the 36 state governors, represented by their attorneys general, oppose the suit on various grounds, including their argument that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case.

In its ruling on Thursday (today), the Supreme Court ordered that full financial autonomy be granted to the LGAs, recognizing them as an independent segment of the federation.

Nigerians React

Scores of Nigerians have welcomed the development on their X handle, noting that it would ensure that local government chairmen are held accountable for their performance.

Some hailed the ruling, declaring that “today should be a Democracy day” and praising President Bola Tinubu for the development.

See reactions below;

@NgBillion: Today should be a Democracy day.
Kudos Tinubu

@NotUrKev: This is a good news, it will be no longer be a blame on federal government and state government alone, it will now also fall on local government. Very good! Now it is high time Nigerians begin to hold their local government chairman responsible if he/she is not performing.

@Shaddylegend: Will My Edo state Government obey this order ? 🤔

@ayo_omoajao: It’s a good day for democracy, It is very important to have local government autonomy. This will make every individual to hold their local government chairman accountable.

@oshinterbz: Good news to LGAs

@SHEGOAMANI: If an ex governor can still be collecting percentage from the state allocation.
What more a sitting governor to a local government chair he installed😊
Governors are too powerful.

@NaroSCOPE: This aligns with the constitution of the land, which is the normal principle to the rule of law. The 774 local government of the federation should have a restrain over their own finances without the involvement of states government.

@UAdebare: That’s good news for them, I hope they’ll do well and if not it’ll be a good way for the LG chairman to cashout well

@DamilareOdulesi: It’s final. This is supreme court judgement.

Now you all should start holding your local government chairmen and councillors responsible.

Please let’s list the areas of responsibility of these localr governments to their people under this comment

@savalake231: Let’s pray they don’t use their new status in the interest of the masses they represent. Even though we know they are proxies of the governors of their states.

Now we’ll see the real fight between governors and LG chairmen.