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Former Nigerian Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has praised the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming fiscal autonomy for local government councils. In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @atiku, Atiku described the judgment as a significant victory for the Nigerian people and a crucial step towards national development.
“The Supreme Court’s judgment today affirming fiscal autonomy to local government councils in the country is a win for the people of Nigeria. The court’s ruling is a step in the right direction and a major corrective action in greasing the wheels of national development across the country,” Atiku tweeted.
He criticized the Federal Government’s previous decision to channel local councils’ revenues through state government accounts, attributing it to political compromise. He emphasized that local governments, as an integral part of the three-tier structure of Nigerian governance, should be focal points for development.
“I align with the decision of the Supreme Court that the structure of the Nigerian government is portioned in three layers, and of these, the local governments should be centres of development,” he said.
Atiku also advocated for local governments to have fiscal autonomy not only over funds from the Federation Accounts but also over internally generated revenue. He highlighted the issue of state governments, particularly in economically active urban areas, restricting local councils from generating revenue from various sources such as motor parks, outdoor advertising, and rents.
“The verdict of the court is in tandem with the core functions of the Supreme Court as an arbitration court between and among governments,” he concluded.
The full tweet can be viewed here.
