FOSAD commends Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for Local Government Areas

…Says ruling will stimulate grassroots development

The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) enthusiastically commends the recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria. This landmark decision is a pivotal step toward stimulating grassroots development and enhancing democratic governance at the local level.

The Supreme Court’s ruling is poised to empower LGAs with greater control over their finances, enabling them to address and implement development projects tailored to the specific needs of their communities. Financial independence is crucial for the efficient delivery of essential public services such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social welfare programs, which significantly impact the daily lives of citizens.

For too long, LGAs have been hindered by a lack of financial independence, leading to delayed projects and inadequate public services. The centralization of funds has stifled local innovation and responsiveness, often resulting in the misallocation of resources. By granting financial autonomy, the Supreme Court’s judgment addresses these issues, paving the way for more accountable and transparent governance at the grassroots level.

This decision aligns with the principles of federalism enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. It reaffirms the importance of LGAs as the third tier of government, essential for fostering development and improving the quality of life for all Nigerians. The LGAs should not rely solely on federal allocation but rather leverage on it create other viable sources of revenue generation.

FOSAD calls on all stakeholders, including state and federal governments, to respect and implement the Supreme Court’s ruling in both letter and spirit. Proper implementation of financial autonomy for LGAs will lead to significant socio-economic transformation, reduce poverty, and create more opportunities for sustainable development at the grassroots level.

To strengthen the effective implementation and enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling, FOSAD calls for the speedy amendment of the laws guiding local government elections. To this end, we recommend that the constitution be amended to transfer the conduct of local government elections to INEC. This will ensure that proper elections are conducted as most state electoral commissions cannot handle the new dimensions of the Supreme Court ruling

FOSAD hereby lauds the Supreme Court for its progressive stance and urges local government officials to leverage this autonomy to drive meaningful change and development in their respective areas. This ruling marks a new dawn for local governance in Nigeria, promising a brighter and more prosperous future for all communities.

Signed
Dr Stephen Nwala
President,
Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)

Dr Uzor Ngoladi
Secretary General
Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)