The Supreme Court has declared it illegal for Governors to dissolve democratically elected Local Governments. This decision reinforces the autonomy of local governance and underscores the importance of democratic processes at all levels of government.
Furthermore, the Court has mandated that the Federal Government must withhold allocations to Local Governments that are governed by unelected officials appointed by the Governor. This measure aims to ensure that only duly elected representatives manage local government affairs.
Additionally, the Supreme Court has prohibited the Federal Government from disbursing Local Government allocations through State Governments. The Court found that this practice has been misused by Governors, who often retain and utilize the funds for purposes other than those intended, to the detriment of the Local Governments.
These pronouncements were made during the ongoing judgment in the Local Government autonomy suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi SAN, on behalf of the Federal Government. This ruling is seen as a significant step towards enhancing the financial and administrative independence of Local Governments across the country.
