“Supreme Court Declares States’ Use of Local Government Funds Unconstitutional”

The long drawn battle for Local Government autonomy in Nigeria appears coming to a logical conclusion today.

This is after a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for states to retain and use money from the federation account on behalf of the Local Governments.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, gave this verdict while delivering judgement on Thursday in the suit filed by the Federal Government against the 36 state governors seeking full autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country.

The justice also dismissed all preliminary objections in the suit.

Final Judgment on the matter is currently underway.