Governors Express Relief Over Supreme Court Ruling on Local Government Autonomy
Abuja, Nigeria – The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, has expressed relief following the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government financial autonomy, stating that the decision eases the pressure on governors.
Speaking at the State House in Abuja on Friday, Governor AbdulRazaq, accompanied by Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, welcomed the ruling, emphasizing its positive impact on state governance.
“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. But by and large, governors are happy with the devolution of power with respect to local government autonomy,” said Governor AbdulRazaq.
He noted that the ruling would significantly relieve the financial burden on state governments. “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,” he added.
The Supreme Court’s decision mandates financial independence for local governments, ensuring that funds allocated to them are directly accessible without state interference. This ruling aims to strengthen grassroots governance and improve service delivery at the local level.
Governor AbdulRazaq’s remarks reflect the broader sentiment among state leaders, who see the ruling as a step towards better resource management and accountability in local government administration. The implementation of the Supreme Court’s order is expected to bring about significant changes in the financial operations of local councils across the country.
