After making remarks recently regarding the expected conduct of local government (LG) chairmen upon receiving direct allocations, former senator Shehu Sani has caused a stir among differing opinions.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
In a pointed tweet, Sani remarked, “Your Excellency Sir, I received the funds. What should I do with them?” This comment suggests that, despite the Supreme Court ruling mandating direct fund allocation to LGs, many chairmen may still seek guidance from state governors on how to utilize these funds.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, which declared the practice of state governors (govs) holding onto LG funds as unconstitutional, was initially hailed as a victory for local governance and financial autonomy. The decision aimed to ensure that funds from the Federation Account are paid directly to the 774 LGs, bypassing state governments and preventing the diversion of these funds.
However, Sani’s tweet has brought to light concerns about the effectiveness of this ruling in achieving true financial independence for LGs. His comment implies that some LG chairmen might continue to operate under the influence of state governors, undermining the intent of the Supreme Court’s decision.
Reactions to Sani’s statement have been varied. Some citizens and political analysts have expressed support, agreeing that there is a need for vigilance to ensure that LG chairmen do not misuse the newly acquired financial autonomy. Others, however, believe that the tweet unfairly generalizes the behavior of all LG officials, potentially overshadowing the positive impacts of the Supreme Court’s ruling.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The Supreme Court’s decision, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, emphasized the need for LGs to manage their funds independently, a right that had been denied for over two decades. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who brought the suit to the Supreme Court, argued for this financial independence, citing gross misconduct and abuse of power by state govs.
