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Local Gov’t autonomy: Senator Igbeke lauds Supreme Court over judgement

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The Financial Consultant to the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Senator Dr. Alphonsus Ubanesse Igbeke, has lauded the Supreme Court for its judgment that granted autonomy to the 774 Local Government Councils in Nigeria.

Sen. Dr. Igbeke made the remarks in a press statement made available to newsmen on Friday, July 12, 2024.

Igbeke remarked that the apex court has truly laid credence to the belief that law is the last hope of the people.

He commended the President, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for rising up to do what others before him failed to do.

He said that by this singular act, President Tinubu has shown clearly that his administration has a firm direction and is determined to empower Nigerians in the local areas and bring needed development to their doorsteps.

Sen. Igbeke also praised the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for his courage, resilience and determination to tread where others before him feared.

He pointed out that by changing the face of local government administration in the Country, President Tinubu and the Minister for Justice, have etched their names in the annals of history with indelible ink.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Sen. Igbeke, who is also the National President of the Tax Payers Association of Nigeria (TAXPAN), said that the Judgment of the Supreme Court will end the neglect of the Local Government Councils and the hijacking of funds meant for the development of Local areas.

He is of the opinion that the autonomy of Local Government Councils would boost the creation of jobs in the local areas and engender the provision of critical infrastructures at the grassroots.

This, he noted, would impact positively on the lives of citizens in towns, villages and hamlets.

According to Igbeke, the Nigerian Constitution envisaged a three-tier government, where each tier should be independent and autonomous.

He regretted that over the years, the local government councils had remained just the goose that laid the golden eggs which fattened the state governments but left them pauperized and comatose.

With the Supreme Court verdict, Senator Igbeke emphasised that the intentions of the drafters of the constitution have been delivered after a rigorous and over-prolonged labour pangs.

He went further to urge the President to consider creating Ministry of Local government affairs to oversee the local government activities in the country.

Sen. Igbeke promised to use his office as ALGON Financial Consultant to ensure that beyond statutory allocations, he would attract adequate funding for the Local Government Councils.

This will enable them to establish signature projects that would bring the developmental visions of the Tinubu Administration to the doorsteps of grassroots dwellers.

He said that he is already in advanced talks with different global institutions that have promised to advance financial grants to the local government councils.

He went further to say that global financial institutions like the World Bank, the United Nations, European Union and other international philanthropic institutions have expressed their readiness to advance grants to the local government councils for the development of local areas in the country.

The Senator rallied support for President Tinubu’s administration as it has shown deep understanding of the plight of the masses despite the current economic situation.

In his words, he has also shown incredible capacity to do what should be done, not minding whose ox is gored.