October 10, (THEWILL) – The Senate, on Wednesday, urged the 36 states Governors to take immediate steps to ensure full compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgement on local government financial autonomy.
This is as the lawmakers resolved to effect appropriate amendments to the constitution to ensure full autonomy for local governments.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the resolution of the lawmakers after an emergency closed-door session, following the amendment and adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra State).
THEWILL reports that the motion bordering on the enforcement of the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy, caused a rowdy session after Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP Kebbi Central), raised a constitutional point of order to stop debate on the motion moved at plenary by Senator Tony Nwoye (LP Anambra North).
The Supreme Court had in a judgement delivered by a seven-man panel of justices, led by Justice Garba Lawal on July 11, 2024, directed that Nigeria’s 774 local governments be granted full financial autonomy.
Rising through orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, to move a motion on the alleged move by some state governments to circumvent the implementation of the judgement through counter laws from their respective state House of Assembly, Senator Nwoye alleged that some State Governors are using their respective House of Assembly to enact laws that would mandate local government councils to remit monies into the state and local government joint account.
While the motion was being debated by lawmakers, Senator Aliero raised a constitutional point of order to halt the debate. Citing section 287 of the 1999 Constitution which makes Supreme Court Judgement enforceable across the country, Aliero urged the Senate not to over-flog the issue.
Also, Senate President Akpabio called the attention of the lawmakers to section 162 sub-section 6 of the 1999 constitution. The section, according to Akpabio, created the state and Local Government Joint Account, which has to be amended in paving the way for full implementation of the Supreme Court Judgement.
“I think what we need to do is to carry out required amendments of certain provisions of the constitution as far as local governments autonomy is concerned”, he said.
But before taking a final decision on the motion, Senator Nwoye hurriedly raised order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules for a personal explanation of the motion. At the same time, Senator Abdulrahman Summaila Kawu (NNPP Kano South) raised a similar point of order.
The Senate was, however, forced to move into an emergency closed-door session where the motion was amended and adopted.
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