Local Governments Would Be Expected To Fix Schools, Tar Roads, And Pay Workers’ – Femi Falana

On Friday, activist lawyer Femi Falana urged state governors to thoroughly review the Supreme Court judgment that granted financial autonomy to local governments. He stated that the ruling would enhance accountability at the grassroots level, as reported by DAILY POST.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), explained that the ruling was not intended to diminish state governments’ influence over local governments. He stated that while the judgment would empower local governments to handle tasks such as managing schools, road maintenance, and worker salaries, it does not eliminate the role of state governments.

Falana noted that state electoral commissions, which are controlled by state governors, have historically manipulated local government elections to favor ruling party candidates. He suggested that state governments should establish state economic councils to include local governments, similar to their participation in the federal economic council.

He stated, “Now, local governments would be expected to fix some schools, tar some roads, and even pay some workers. So, it is not that state governments will no longer participate in the affairs of the local governments, the state governments should create state economic councils and allow the local government to participate in them, just like they are part of the federal economic council.

“The judgment has to be studied by the governors so that everybody will appreciate that what the Supreme Court has done is to promote public accountability at the grassroots levels……See_More