Prof. Ali Ahmad, the Speaker of the 8th Kwara State House of Assembly and Professor of Constitutional Law has commended the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government autonomy, thanking President Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN for reigniting hope of a working Nigeria.
In a public statement issued on Friday, the former speaker said the historical judicial intervention is of inestimable value, comparing it to the legislative adoption of the principle of “necessity” in saving the soul of the country.
The professor of law encourages senior citizens to actively participate in politics and run for local government positions in their communities to bring much-needed governance closer to the people.
Recall that the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered a significant judgment on Thursday, granting financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country.
The case was brought by the federal government against the 36 state governors, and the apex court made a ruling regarding the status of the third tier of government.
The court ruled that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to LGAs in their states.
The statement reads, “By this action, the AGF and Mr. President have rekindled the hope of Nigerians that Nigeria can still work. Personally, it gives me hope that more quality people take an interest in active politics. I dream that in the lifetime of this administration, former federal lawmakers, professors, and engineers will aspire to become LG chairmen to bring badly-needed governance closer to the grassroots.”
Professor Ali noted that liberating the local government from the control of governors has been an enduring challenge, resisting numerous constitutional amendment exercises, Presidential Executive Orders, and decisions of the Supreme Court
“Learning from these previous failures, taking this unconventional step of instituting this case could be the most popular decision of President Tinubu’s Administration so far. The case gives clear expression to latent provisions of the Constitution on the financial autonomy of LGs,” the former speaker said.
The ex-federal lawmaker acknowledged the contributions of President Tinubu, as well as other legal experts led by the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
He also acknowledged the efforts of various well-meaning Nigerians, including the Kwara-based civil society group, EnetSuD, describing them as “heroes of this success.”
“Although several calls and actions by well-meaning individuals and groups were ignored, however, Prof. Abdullateef Alagbonsi and his led ENETSUD are superbly justified, having had 6 out of their 7 prayers successfully ratified by the current case. The Seventh prayer is to the effect that the Kwara State Governor should recover all LG sums hitherto expended by all unelected TIC Chairmen and receipts shown to the court. I commend the heroes of this success from the President, the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, our own Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the other legal minds.”
The professor of law, while advocating for support for the civil society group in its effort to ensure that the Court of Appeal’s order is affirmed by the Supreme Court, expressed dismay that no state has been more openly plundered with impunity than Kwara under the incumbent governor.
He stated that the financial autonomy ruling by the apex court holds special significance for Kwara state and the ongoing legal battle between EnetSuD and the State Government.
“The landmark judgment by the Supreme Court has special significance for Kwara, not because the AGF is from the state but because more than any other state in the country, Kwara state will produce elected LG officials for the first time in five sordid years. No state has been so brazenly pilfered with impunity.
“I am sure Kwarans will support the civil society group to ensure that this last order of the Court of Appeal will be affirmed by the Supreme Court in a live matter between ENETSUD and the Kwara State Government which has been stalled for so long. The Supreme Court will do well in determining this matter in good time.”
Meanwhile, the former federal lawmaker has urged the President to initiate “a one-item, emergency executive bill and send it to the National Assembly to enable the national electoral body, INEC, to conduct local government elections in the country.”
Professor Ali, however, advised the president to be cautious of potential retaliation lawsuits and other hostile actions from state governors. He added that history will remember President Tinubu kindly for his efforts in reforming the local government system.
“However, I caution President Tinubu to expect retaliation lawsuits and other hostile steps from the Governors. A reformer must expect that change is never easy, and it often creates discord. But posterity will be kind to the LG reformer that Tinubu is.
“Indeed, the President must complement this effort by sending a one-item, emergency Executive Bill to the National Assembly for the amendment of the Third Schedule to the Constitution to enable INEC to conduct LG elections. This bill must be treated in isolation, and legislative works must be concluded within a few weeks. With Nigeria’s support for granting full financial autonomy to local governments across the nation, the people say “God save the President.”
