The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, urged state and local governments to immediately follow the Supreme Court ruling regarding local government finances.
The Senate wants to ensure that local governments receive funds directly, without interference from state governments.
Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau announced this resolution after lawmakers held a closed-door meeting. They discussed how some state governments have tried to avoid the Supreme Court’s decision made on July 11.
Senator Tony Nwoye raised concerns about state governments using their state Houses of Assembly to create laws that go against the Supreme Court ruling.
He said, “It is urgent to stop state governments from passing laws that breach the constitution and the Supreme Court’s judgment on financial autonomy for local governments.”
The motion was supported by 12 other senators, highlighting concerns about state governments trying to control local government funds.
The motion explained, “Some state governments are trying to subvert the financial autonomy of local governments by making laws that require local councils to send their funds into dedicated accounts that the state governments manage.”
Senator Nwoye pointed out that some governors are already enacting laws that force local councils to deposit their funds into State/Local Government Joint Accounts, which the Supreme Court ruled against.
In July, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds meant for local governments. The court also ruled that governors cannot dissolve elected local government councils, stating that doing so would violate the 1999 Constitution.
