The federal government of Nigeria has dragged governors of the 36 states of the federation before the Supreme Court, where it is demanding autonomy for the 774 local governments.
In a suit marked SC/CV/343/2024, the federal government is praying the Apex Court for an order prohibiting state governors from unilateral, arbitrary, and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected leaders for local governments.
The suit filed on May 20, by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice , AGF, Lateef Fagbemi ,SAN, further asked the Supreme Court for an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the federation account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.
The FG wants an order stopping governors from constituting caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments as against the constitutionally recognized and guaranteed democratic system.
Also, the federal government wants an order of injunction restraining the governors, their agents, and privies from receiving, spending or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in the states.
Details shortly…
