Renowned human rights advocate and scholar, Chidi Odinkalu, has reacted to a query regarding the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy in Nigeria. The exchange took place on his official X handle (formerly Twitter) in response to a tweet from Darewell Oniyide, who asked why Odinkalu had not appraised the Supreme Court’s decision.
Oniyide’s tweet stated, “Prof. You didn’t appraise the LG autonomy judgment at the Supreme Court.” In a direct response, Odinkalu replied, “I cannot appraise a judgment I have not seen or read. I lack sniffing capabilities.”
This interaction explains the importance of the Supreme Court’s decision, which was reported by Channels Television as a landmark ruling. On Thursday, the apex court ordered the Federal Government to begin the immediate direct payment of funds to local governments’ exclusive accounts, thereby ensuring their financial autonomy.
In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the Supreme Court criticized the longstanding refusal by state governments to grant financial independence to local governments. This decision marks an important moment in the fight for local governance reform in Nigeria, aiming to enhance the efficiency and autonomy of local government administrations across the country.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for the distribution and management of funds at the local government level, potentially fostering more accountable and transparent governance….Seë_Morë