The Federal Government has instituted a legal action against the 36 State Governors at the Supreme Court, seeking full autonomy for Local Government Areas (LGAs) as the third tier of government.
In the suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the FG is seeking an order to prohibit state governors from unilaterally dissolving democratically elected local government leaders and to direct that funds meant for LGAs be channelled directly to them from the Federation Account.
The FG also prayed the court to stop governors from constituting Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of LGAs and to restrain them from receiving, spending, or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of LGAs when no democratically elected local government system is in place.
The 36 State Governors were sued through their respective Attorneys General.
The Supreme Court has fixed May 30 for the hearing of the suit.
This development is seen by many Nigerians as a significant move by the FG to ensure LGA autonomy and put an end to the long-standing practice of state governors interfering with the administration of LGAs.
