THE Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has warned against violating the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, promising to take action against any council officials who go against it.
Fagbemi issued this warning yesterday in Abuja during a conference for judiciary reporters.
He stated that grassroots governance has “suffered significantly” in the past, but he believes the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling will revitalize local governments.
“People at the grassroots have endured long-standing neglect, and that must end. The government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu (GCFR) is committed to correcting past injustices and elevating the country on the global stage. Any attempt to undermine this effort will be met with strong resistance and appropriate consequences. Local government chairmen and councilors should remember that while governors enjoy immunity, they do not,” Fagbemi explained.
“They must choose between managing local government funds irresponsibly and facing potential jail time. The choice is entirely theirs. If they opt to mishandle funds and face imprisonment, that is their decision. However, if they wish to leave a positive legacy, they must focus on initiatives like building or upgrading roads, schools, hospitals, and more. We need to bring life back to local governments!”
In July, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling affirming the financial autonomy of local governments, preventing governors from controlling local government funds.
The ruling also required the AGF to ensure that local government allocations are paid directly into their accounts, aiming to strengthen local government autonomy nationwide.