In a significant move, the Federal Government has filed a lawsuit against the 36 state governors at the Supreme Court, seeking to ensure the autonomy of local governments in the country. The suit, filed on May 20 by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on behalf of the Federal Government, aims to protect the rights of democratically elected local government leaders and ensure the constitutional provisions are upheld.
The Federal Government is seeking an order from the Apex Court to:
1. Prohibit state governors from unilaterally dissolving democratically elected local government leaders.
2. Allow funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channeled to them from the Federation Account, as provided for in the Constitution.
3. Stop governors from constituting caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments, which is contrary to the constitutionally recognized democratic system.
4. Restrain 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 legal action by the Federal Government is a significant step towards ensuring the autonomy and independence of local governments, and promoting democratic governance at the grassroots level.
