The Supreme Court of Nigeria is set to deliver judgment today on a significant suit filed by the Federal Government regarding the autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas (LGAs).
This case, which has drawn considerable attention, involves a dispute over whether the FG has the authority to secure full autonomy for the LGAs independent of state governments.
The suit was filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on behalf of the LGAs. It challenges the control and financial autonomy of local governments, which have been a subject of contention between the federal and state levels of governance in Nigeria.
State governments, including Ondo, Lagos, and Taraba, have filed preliminary objections arguing against the FG’s standing to initiate such legal action. They contend that local governments are constitutionally distinct entities and that matters related to their autonomy should not be determined by federal intervention.
Ondo State, for example, has labeled the AGF as a “busy body” interfering in local affairs, citing constitutional provisions that mandate the distribution of funds among federal, state, and local governments without federal discretion.
The outcome of today’s judgment could have far-reaching implications for the governance structure in Nigeria, affecting the autonomy and financial independence of local governments nationwide.
