The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered judgment stopping forthwith Governors of the 36 States of the Federation from any interference and holding of funds belonging to the 774 local government councils of the federation.
The judgment followed a suit instituted by the Federal Government against the 36 state governors of the federation on local government autonomy.
In the suit, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi sought full autonomy and direct fund allocation to the 774 local governments in the country.
The Attorney General had asked the apex court to invoke sections 1, 4, 5, 7, and 14 of the constitution to declare that the governors and state houses of assembly are under obligation to ensure democratically elected systems at the third tier.
READ ALSO: Benue establishes homeland security bureau
Supreme Court in its lead judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court declared that it is unconstitutional for governors to hold on to funds meant for Local Government (LG) administrations.
Justice Agim said the refusal of the state government on financial autonomy for local governments has gone on for over two decades.
According to him, local governments have since stopped receiving the money meant for them from the state governors who act in their stead.
Justis Agim noted that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.
He dismissed the preliminary objections of the defendants which are state governors.
Justice Agim said the AGF has the right to institute the suit in his position as the chief law officer of the country to protect the constitution.
The apex Court also barred the Governors from dissolving local government councils duely elected officials as doing so, would amount to a breach of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic.
