The Coalition of Pro-Democracy Groups for A Better Nigeria, has hailed the supreme court’s judgment, upholding local government autonomy in Nigeria.
The group in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Comrade Awa Bamiji, on Friday, described the apex court ruling as a step towards strengthening democracy and protecting the downtrodden.
Mr Bamiji however stated that the judgment underscores the need for accountability among local government chairmen, with state governors, civil commissions, and anti-graft agencies playing a role in oversight through petitions and civil society engagement.
“The Coalition of Pro-Democracy Groups for A Better Nigeria has pledged to mobilize popular support for this cause, ensuring that local
The group noted that that court’s ruling addressed several key issues, including the dissolution of democratically elected local governments by governors as illegal, and barring the federal government from continuing the practice of paying local government allocations through state governments due to misuse.
“This judgment marks a victory for the Nigerian masses and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), who have long protested against state governors’ interference. Notably, Hon. Wale Adedayo, a former chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, was removed by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State for advocating local government autonomy. This ruling vindicates activists like Adedayo and bolsters democratic governance at the local level.
“The decision aligns with the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference and the 2017 APC Committee on True Federalism, chaired by El-Rufai. It underscores the support from past and present leaders for local government autonomy, highlighting a move towards greater federalism in Nigeria,” the statement added.
