Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has commended the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding fiscal autonomy for local government councils across Nigeria.
In a statement posted on Thursday via X, Atiku hailed the decision as “a win for the people of Nigeria” and a significant step forward.
The Supreme Court’s judgment overturns the previous practice of transferring local council funds to state government accounts.
Atiku slammed the former arrangement, describing it as a result of an immature compromise.
Expressing his support for the ruling, Atiku said, “I support the Supreme Court’s decision that the structure of the Nigerian government is divided into three layers, and among these, local governments should be centers of development.”
The former Vice President went further, advocating for expanding fiscal autonomy beyond just the Federation Account allocations.
“I also believe that fiscal autonomy for local governments should not be limited to revenues from the Federation Accounts but should also include internally generated revenue from the respective local government authorities,” he stated.
Atiku raised concerns about state governments, especially in urban areas, interfering with local councils’ revenue generation.
He wrote, “Many states, particularly those in highly urbanized areas with dense economic activities, have become notorious for pressuring local councils into generating revenue on items like motor parks, outdoor advertising, rents, and more.”
Furthermore, Atiku praised the Supreme Court’s role, saying, “The court’s verdict aligns with the core functions of the Supreme Court as an arbitration court between and among governments.”
Recall on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that state governors’ control over funds allocated to local government administrations is unconstitutional.
The seven-man tribunal, led by Justice Emmanuel Agim, decided that Nigeria’s 774 local government councils should manage their own funds.
The court also ruled that a state administration has no authority to appoint a caretaker committee and that a local government council can only be recognized if it is democratically elected.
