The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, says Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling on autonomy for local councils in the country will take immediate effect.
According to him, the Court pronouncement has “emancipated” Local Government Areas from the “shackles of the past”.
On Thursday, the apex court ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay LG allocations directly to local government councils.
Gov Peter Mbah of Enugu State
The Supreme Court had declared as illegal and unconstitutional for the state governors to have a say on how the funds of the local government areas are spent.
The court also ordered the federal government to stop sending the funds to non democratically elected council chairmen.
Speaking with journalists after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Fagbemi said the judgment of the supreme court will take “immediate effect”.
The AGF said the “ball is now in the court” of state governors to conduct LGA elections, adding that the judgment stipulates punishment for refusal.
“Naturally, one will be happy, should be happy. Nigerians are happy about it,” he said.
“I hope that local government officials will look at it as an opportunity to develop their various local governments.
“The judgment is clear as to what they should do, the judgment is clear as to what consequences will attach to failure or refusal to follow the judgment of the supreme court… which takes immediate effect.”
