LG Autonomy: FG explains delayed implementation

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has declared that the federal government did not give state governments a moratorium in the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement on full financial autonomy of the local government areas. The AGF explained that there is a delay in the full implementation of the apex court verdict due to the measures being put in place by the federal government towards achieving a successful implementation. Fagbemi spoke on Monday while addressing newsmen after he was honoured with an honorary degree during the 12th convocation ceremony and 15th Founder’s Day Event of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). According to him, there is no going back in the implementation of the judgement for the 774 local government areas to be given financial autonomy in order to ensure development at the grassroots level. He warned states not to commit contempt of court by disobeying the verdict of the Supreme Court, adding that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was determined to ensure all duly constituted and elected local government administrators received their allocations directly from the federation account. Fagbemi said, “Unfortunately, I know it has been in the media that they gave them (the governors) a three-month moratorium, which is not the position. The position is that yes, the judgement was delivered, but we felt that there is a need to put some things in place before the full implementation. That it is going to be implemented is sacrosanct; nobody can run away from it. ReplyForwardAdd reaction

Supreme Court Judgement: Nasarawa State Moves to Reform LG Structure

The Nasarawa State Government has introduced a bill to the State House of Assembly aimed at revising the local government system in line with the Supreme Court’s recent decision on local government autonomy. The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for a Law to Repeal and Re-enact the Establishment, Structure, Composition, Finance and Function of Local Government System in Nasarawa State, 2024,” seeks to update the current framework to reflect the new mandate. During a recent session, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, noted that the bill represents a move to reshape the local government structure to align with the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial independence for local councils.  The House Leader, Hon. Suleiman Azara, presented the bill for the first reading, with the Minority Leader, Hon. Luka Zhekaba, providing support. The state government’s plan, as outlined by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Jonah Dizaho, includes the removal of the joint account system and the elimination of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.  The second reading of the bill is scheduled for October 16, 2024.

Kano announce date for LG polls 

The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has scheduled November 30, 2024, for the local government elections in the state.