The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has praised the Supreme Court for its decision on local governments’ fiscal autonomy, saying it has returned power to the people at the grassroots level.
Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, stated that the court’s ruling to allocate financial resources directly to local governments, and to limit the authority of state governments in removing local government executives, is both bold and beneficial.
According to Ajaero, this landmark judgment not only reinstates our democracy but also instills hope.
He believes that the lack of progress in the nation’s development and the rise in crime and threats to our collective well-being are linked to the control and paralysis of local governments by state governments.
Ajaero described the journey toward local governments’ independence as a difficult one.
Ajaero said, “For years, we had watched with dismay and discontent the remorseless and mindless erosion of the powers of the local governments and had embarked on a series of national protests as workers.
“We also note the effort made by the Buhari administration to prise off the strangle-hold of governors on local governments. We must also mention the commendable role on this matter by the 9th Assembly.
“This statement will not be complete without paying tribute to the Tinubu government for its presence of mind to institute this action at the Supreme Court. We specifically commend the president and the Attorney General of the Federation.
“Judgment has been given but we are now confronted with implementation. We urge that all necessary measures be taken that this judgment is not sabotaged at the implementation stage.
“This brings us to the conduct of elections at local governments. Elections by SIECS have been anything but fair. The true freedom of local governments, in our view, must also come from those who govern them.
Should SIECS be allowed to conduct ‘elections’ or should INEC take over (even as they are over-burdened and are not exactly the best example)? Should there be regulatory agency or commission with an oversight over SIECs? We will find the devil in the details through a stake-holder conversation.
“Freedom of local governments will be nothing if those who will take charge end up behaving badly like their predecessors in power.
“There is need for a self-purgation or a national rebirth as laws or court pronouncements alone may not be enough”.
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