In a significant move that promises to reshape the landscape of local governance in Nigeria, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, has voiced his approval of the recent Supreme Court judgement granting full autonomy to Local Government Areas (LGAs). This landmark decision, which has far-reaching implications for the distribution of power and resources, has been described by AbdulRahman as a considerable relief for state governors.
During a briefing at the Presidential Villa on Friday, AbdulRahman highlighted the often overlooked financial strain that state governments endure in supporting local governments. "We welcome the ruling of the Supreme Court. Compliance is a given and our Attorney Generals have applied for the enrollment order, which we’ll study carefully," he stated. Emphasizing the positive impact of the ruling, he added, "But by and large governors are happy with the devolution of power in respect to local government autonomy. It relieves the burden on governors. Our people really don’t know how much states expend in bailing out local governments, and that’s the issue there."
This declaration came after AbdulRahman's meeting with President Bola Tinubu, where the discussions likely centered on the implications of this new judicial direction. The NGF Chairman pointed out that the autonomy ruling would provide much-needed financial relief to state administrations, which have historically been responsible for supplementing local government budgets.
AbdulRahman also announced that the governors would convene next week to deliberate on the judgement and formulate a unified stance. This meeting aims to ensure that all states align their responses and strategies concerning the Supreme Court's decision. The anticipated resolutions from this meeting are expected to chart the course for the practical implementation of LGA autonomy across the country.
As Nigeria stands on the brink of this transformative change, the forthcoming deliberations by the governors will be pivotal in determining the future dynamics between state and local governments. The Supreme Court's judgement not only marks a judicial milestone but also signals a potential shift towards more efficient and autonomous local governance.
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