*The All Progressives Congress hails the Supreme Court of Nigeria for decision on financial autonomy for Local Government Councils, stating the judgement ‘constitutes single most significant stride towards restructuring Nigeria since the country鈥檚 return to civilian democratic rule in 1999’

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it welcomed the “epochal decision of the Supreme Court handed down Thursday, July 11, 2024.

The country’s apex court, in its landmark ruling, affirmed the right of Local Government Councils (LGCs) to receive their monthly allocations directly from the Federation Account.

The ruling party averred the Supreme Court decision struck down the proxy system, in which state governments received Federal allocations on behalf of Local Government Councils in the country.

The Justice Emmanuel Agim-led seven-man panel also upheld the position of the Federal Government that state Governors lack authority under the law to arbitrarily dissolve democratically-elected Local Government Councils, and set up Caretaker Committees in their place as ubiquitously practised.

Commenting on the development, Felix Morka, Esq., National Publicity Secretary of APC, in a statement Friday, July 12, noted the “decision signifies a historic moment in the consolidation of democratic federalism in our country.”

Morka stated: “It gives practical expression to constitutional recognition of local government councils as the third tier of government.

“It constitutes single most significant stride towards restructuring Nigeria since the country鈥檚 return to civilian democratic rule in 1999.”

The National Publicity Secretary also said: “We applaud the Supreme Court for justifying itself, and for its courage in rendering a definitive decision on this vexed national issue.

“The clarity that it brings will, no doubt, spur further reform for effectiveness, transparency and accountability of local government administration in the country.”

The party further stated: “We commend the ingenuity, vision, and commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deepening our democracy, and turning our Local Government Councils into potential strongholds for development and more efficient service delivery to our populations at the grassroots.”