The federal government has taken a bold step to ensure the autonomy of local governments in the country by suing the thirty-six state governors before the Supreme Court.
In the suit, marked SC/CV/343/2024, filed on May 20, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is praying the Apex Court to protect the rights of local governments from the alleged excesses of state governors.
The federal government is seeking an order prohibiting state governors from unilaterally dissolving democratically elected local government leaders, which it describes as arbitrary and unlawful.
Furthermore, the federal government is asking the Supreme Court to order that funds meant for local governments be channelled directly to them from the federation account, as provided for in the Constitution.
This move is aimed at stopping the alleged unlawful practice of state governors creating joint accounts to manage local government funds.
The federal government is also seeking an order stopping governors from constituting caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments, which it argues is against the constitutionally recognized democratic system.
It also wants an order of injunction restraining governors, their agents, and privies from receiving, spending, or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is in place in the states.
This development is seen as a significant step towards ensuring the autonomy and financial independence of local governments in the country.
Legal experts have hailed the move, describing it as a bold step towards strengthening democracy at the grassroots level.