The forum of the former Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), chairmen have lauded the Court of Appeal’s judgment upholding the financial autonomy of local governments in Nigeria and monitoring of the management of local government funds by state governments.
Speaking on behalf of the chairmen on Thursday in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the former Abia State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Ibe Michael Nwoke described the ruling as a “ray of hope” for local government administration and grassroots development without undue interference by state governors.
Nwoke who ran for Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo federal constituency, on the platform of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the 2023 general election, noted that the forum which remains a stakeholder in the affairs of the local government’s operations across Nigeria was elated that democracy and its dividends would be felt at the grassroots with the Appeal Court’s judgment.
According to him “The judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal raises hope for local government administration in Nigeria and ensures that funds for local governments would not be tampered with.
“We are excited at the appeal court judgment and we hope that state governors would do the needful by obeying the courts and also conduct local government elections in their various states.”
He used the forum to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring that the right thing is done and believes with him at the helm of affairs in Nigeria, local government administration in Nigeria would experience a serious boost.
Recall that 36 states and the Nigeria Governors Forum had challenged the legality of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU0, guidelines which came into effect on June 1, 2019, that requires state governments to use specific accounts for receiving and transferring funds to local governments.
The guidelines were aimed at reducing vulnerabilities created by cash withdrawals from local government funds but the Governors had approached the court describing the guidelines as unlawful and unconstitutional.
The former ALGON chairman noted that the court’s decision was final and expected to be binding and expected to be complied with by state governors.
The Nation
