Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has hailed the Supreme Court’s decision granting fiscal autonomy to local government councils in Nigeria as a victory for the people. In a recent statement, Atiku praised the ruling for overturning the previous practice of consolidating local council revenues into state government accounts, calling it a step in the right direction away from politics-driven compromises.
Atiku expressed his support for the court’s decision, emphasizing the importance of local governments as centers of development. He also advocated for extending fiscal autonomy to include revenues generated internally by local government authorities, beyond just funds from the Federation Account.
Concerned about state governments interfering with local councils’ revenue generation, particularly in urban areas, Atiku highlighted the need for local councils to have control over their finances. He commended the Supreme Court for fulfilling its role as an arbitrator amongst various levels of government.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, asserted that funds allocated for local government administrations should be managed by the councils themselves. The court reaffirmed the separation of powers among the federal, state, and local levels of government, emphasizing the need for democratically elected local government councils over appointed caretaker committees.\
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