Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has indeed stated that the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy is a work in progress that will be perfected over time. According to him, “The ruling was welcome by everybody.
It’s the execution of that ruling and the implementation of that ruling that we are still trying to dot the Is and cross the Ts. I believe in a matter of time, we will realise full autonomy. There cannot be effective governance without full autonomy. That’s what we are working toward”.
The Supreme Court judgment, delivered on July 11, 2024, granted full autonomy to the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, ruling that state governors can no longer hold onto funds meant for local governments. However, the implementation has faced delays and challenges, with some governors resisting the move and others passing laws that conflict with the judgment.
Challenges to Implementation:
– Governors’ Resistance: Some governors have expressed concerns about the judgment, citing potential chaos and difficulties in managing local government finance.
– Lack of Compliance: Some states have not complied with the judgment, with governors continuing to control local government funds.
– Stringent Conditions: The Central Bank of Nigeria has set conditions for local governments to open accounts, which some councils have struggled to meet.
Key Stakeholders’ Reactions:
– NULGE: The National Union of Local Government Employees has accused saboteurs in President Tinubu’s government of delaying the implementation and called for prompt action.
– ALGON: The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria has expressed frustration with the delay and urged the Federal Government to implement the judgment.
