Tinubu Worries About LG  councils, Drag Governors To Supreme Court

 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed worries over the current sorry state of affairs in local government councils in Nigeria, saying this has led to failed development and escalating insecurity.

The president who spoke in Abuja at a national discourse on Nigeria’s security challenges and good governance at the local government levels, organised by the House of Representatives.

He said good governance at all tiers of government would enhance development.

The discourse was organised by the leadership of the 10th House of Representatives, seeking to entrench federal system of government with responsibilities, powers, and resources shared among the federal, states, and local governments.

Represented by the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, President Tinubu said a well governed state is better equipped to address internal challenges such as terrorism, insurgency and communal violence. 

 “Sadly, the state of our local government system in Nigeria is a cause of concern, as its degradation, and incapacitation have continued significantly and has contributed significantly to our developmental setback and our inability to effectively address the prevailing national security threat. 

 “We find ourselves trapped in a paradoxical situation where the very areas most affected by security classes are rendered powerless and unable to mount any meaningful resistance or defense. 

 “Local governments are the frontline defenders against insecurity, as they are closest to the people and possess intimate knowledge of their communities need and challenges. This is why some are advocating for community policing, as a panacea to end security challenges”, he said. 

Meanwhile, as the debate around autonomy in the administration of the 774 local government areas gained some crescendo with the federal government instituting a legal action against the governors of the 36 States of the Federation at the Supreme Court over alleged misconduct in the running of the councils.

In the suit marked SC/CV/343/2024, filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the federal government is seeking full autonomy for all LGAs in the country as the third tier of government.

It specifically prayed the apex court to issue an order prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders.

It also prayed the court for an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.

Besides, the federal government prayed the Supreme Court for an order stopping governors from further constituting caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments as against the constitutionally recognised and guaranteed democratic system.

It equally applied for an order of injunction, restraining the governors, their agents and privies, from receiving, spending or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefits of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in the states.

The governors were sued through their respective Attorneys General.