The Federal Government has taken all 36 state governors to the Supreme Court over alleged misuse and misconduct in managing Local Government Areas (LGAs).
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The case, filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, seeks to establish LGAs as an independent third tier of government.
Fagbemi has asked the court to stop state governors from unlawfully dissolving elected LGA administrators.
He also wants LGA funds to be sent directly to them from the Federation Account, as required by the Constitution, instead of through joint accounts controlled by governors.
The suit argues that Nigeria’s federation, created by the 1999 Constitution with the President at its head, must follow constitutional provisions.
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Photo via Channels Television
It also asks the court to prevent governors from setting up Caretaker Committees to manage LGAs, which is against the Constitution’s rules for a democratically elected local government system.
The Attorney-General seeks an injunction to stop governors and their agents from interfering with LGA funds from the Federation Account.
The suit, supported by a 13-paragraph affidavit from Kelechi Ohaeri of the Federal Ministry of Justice, was filed against the 36 governors through their state attorneys general.
The affidavit states that the governors, as representatives of their states, have sworn to uphold the Constitution. It emphasizes that the Constitution recognizes federal, state, and local governments as three tiers, each drawing funds from the Federation Account.
It also asserts that the Constitution mandates a democratically elected local government system, with no provisions for alternative governance at the local level.
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