Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has indicated that the governors will review the Supreme Court’s recent ruling granting financial autonomy to local government councils.
Speaking on Thursday after his meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, Soludo described the verdict as “great.”
“That’s great. I mean, the Supreme Court is the final authority and I am a democrat. I believe in the rule of law. And once the Supreme Court has spoken, it has spoken. Tonight, I think the Governors Forum is meeting to review this,” Soludo said.
He highlighted the importance of this move in promoting transparency and accountability in the utilization of public resources at all levels, aiming to alleviate the burdens faced by the common man.
Commitment to Local Government Elections
Soludo reaffirmed his commitment to conducting local government elections in Anambra State, a promise he made during his campaign and reiterated in his inaugural speech.
He emphasized that preparations are underway with the recent passage of the Independent Electoral Commission Law of Anambra State.
“When I was elected into office, that’s one of the things I promised our people [to conduct local government elections] because in Anambra, I think the first local government election we had was in 1998,” he said.
“We’ve just passed the Independent Electoral Commission Law of Anambra State and we’re putting together the institutions to be able to organize that. It is a promise I made and when I make a promise, I am serious about keeping it.”
Supreme Court’s Landmark Judgement
In its ruling, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Emmanuel Agim, mandated the Federal Government to ensure immediate and direct payment of funds to local government accounts, bypassing state governments.
This decision is aimed at curbing the longstanding practice of states withholding these funds, thereby denying local governments financial autonomy.
President Bola Tinubu welcomed the judgment, emphasizing that it will enhance accountability and ensure that local leaders are directly responsible to the people. He stated, “By virtue of this judgement, our people – especially the poor – will be able to hold their local leaders to account for their actions and inactions. What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses.”
Reactions from Atiku Abubakar and NLC
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have both praised the Supreme Court’s decision. NLC President Joe Ajaero highlighted that the ruling restores faith in democracy, while Atiku described it as a significant step towards national development.
Atiku stated, “I align with the decision of the Supreme Court that the structure of the Nigerian government is portioned in three layers, and of these, the local governments should be centres of development.”
The Supreme Court’s decision has been hailed as a pivotal moment for Nigerian federalism, ensuring that local governments receive their due financial resources directly, thereby fostering development and accountability at the grassroots level.