Trade Unions and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria have joined forces to demand the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s landmark judgement on Local Government autonomy.
The judgement, which was hailed as a victory for democracy and good governance, affirmed the autonomy of Local Government Administration in Nigeria, making it clear that caretaker committees are illegal and unconstitutional.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, Comrade Jaye Gaskia, Co-Convener of the Campaign For Transformative Governance (CFTG), said the judgement was a call to action for citizens, civil society, and trade unions to ensure that state governments implement the decisions of the Supreme Court in totality.
Gaskia noted that the judgement had far-reaching implications, including the need for states without democratically elected local governments to conduct elections immediately, and for allocations from the Federation Account to be paid directly to democratically elected local governments.
He also emphasized the need for citizens to establish structures of civic engagement to ensure participatory public expenditure management initiatives, which would prevent the wastage of funds and ensure optimal service delivery by local governments.
The trade unions and CSOs vowed to mobilize Nigerians to hold their state governments accountable and ensure the full implementation of the Supreme Court judgement.
“The Supreme Court has done its part, it is now incumbent upon us as active citizens to ensure the full implementation of this Judgement and the provisions of Section 7 of the constitution by all parties concerned,” Comrade Gaskia said.
He disclosed that the coalition has planned a series of rallies and protests across the country to push for the implementation of the judgement and ensure that local governments are truly autonomous and accountable to the people.
He said, “The Campaign For Transformative Governance (CFTG), Nigeria, welcomes and applauds the landmark Judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the subject of interpretation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria (CFRN) as amended on the system of Local Government administration in Nigeria.
“we in the Campaign For Transformative Governance (CFTG) see this Supreme Court Judgement On Local Government Autonomy as an opportunity, to reform local governance; to ensure truly democratic, representative, responsive, responsible and accountable governance at the third tier of government; and to ensure that citizens and residents can now take control of processes aimed at improving their security and wellbeing, in fulfillment of the provisions of Chapter Two of the 1999 CFRN as amended.
