Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president of Nigeria, has praised the Supreme Court’s ruling today upholding local government councils’ economic autonomy.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Atiku criticized the previous practice where revenues of local councils were consolidated into state government accounts, calling it a politically motivated compromise. He aligned himself with the Supreme Court’s view that local governments, as one of the three tiers of government in Nigeria, deserve autonomy in managing their finances.
“I also share the belief that fiscal autonomy to the local governments should not be limited to revenues from the Federation Accounts, but indeed, should apply to Internally Generated Revenue from the respective local government authorities,” Atiku added. He highlighted challenges faced by local councils in generating revenue independently, especially in urban areas with high economic activity.
The former vice president endorsed the Supreme Court’s role as an arbitration court, noting that the verdict aligns with its mandate to resolve disputes among government entities. He expressed optimism that the ruling would empower local governments to fulfill their responsibilities effectively, including infrastructure development and service delivery.
Atiku’s statement reflects widespread support for the Supreme Court’s decision, which directed that local councils receive their allocations directly from the Federation Account. This ruling aims to curb financial mismanagement and ensure transparency in the utilization of public funds at the grassroots level.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
