The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the Supreme Court verdict on fiscal autonomy for local government councils as a historic moment in the consolidation of democratic federalism in our country.
The governing party also noted that the decision of the apex court gave expression to constitutional recognition of local government councils as the third tier of government.
Hailing the court judgement in a statement in Abuja on Friday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka said the verdict constituted the single most significant stride towards restructuring Nigeria since the country’s return to civilian democratic rule in 1999.
The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) welcomes the epochal decision of the Supreme Court handed down yesterday, Thursday, July 11, 2024, affirming the right of local government councils to receive their monthly allocations directly from the federation account. The decision struck down the proxy system in which state governments received federal allocations on behalf of local government councils in the country.
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“This decision signifies a historic moment in the consolidation of democratic federalism in our country. It gives practical expression to the constitutional recognition of local government councils as the third tier of government. It constitutes the single most significant stride towards restructuring Nigeria since the country’s return to civilian democratic rule in 1999.
“The Justice Emmanuel Agim-led seven-man panel also upheld the position of the federal government that state Governors lack authority under the law to arbitrarily dissolve democratically-elected local governments councils and set up caretaker committees in their place as ubiquitously practised.
“We applaud the Supreme Court for justifying itself, and for its courage in rendering a definitive decision on this vexed national issue. The clarity that it brings will, no doubt, spur further reform for effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of local government administration in the country.”
The party also commended the ingenuity, vision, and commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards deepening our democracy and turning our local government councils into potential strongholds for development and more efficient service delivery to our populations at the grassroots.