By 
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken legal action against the Governors of the 36 States of the Federation at the Supreme Court, accusing them of misconduct in the administration of Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The Federal Government (FG) has presented several key requests in this landmark case, aiming to strengthen the autonomy and governance of LGAs across the country.
The FG is seeking the following:
— Full Autonomy for LGAs: The FG is advocating for full autonomy for all LGAs, recognizing them as the third tier of government. This move is intended to enhance their operational independence and governance.
— Prohibition on Dissolving Local Government Leaders: The FG has requested the Supreme Court to issue an order prohibiting state governors from unilaterally and unlawfully dissolving democratically elected local government leaders.
— Direct Funding to Local Governments: The FG is seeking an order allowing funds allocated to local governments to be directly disbursed to them from the Federation Account, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
— Stopping the Use of Caretaker Committees: The FG is asking for an order to stop governors from appointing caretaker committees to manage the affairs of local governments, which contravenes the Constitution’s guarantee of a democratic system.
— Restraining Governors from Misusing LGA Funds: The FG has applied for an injunction to prevent governors and their agents from receiving, spending, or tampering with funds designated for local governments from the Federation Account, especially in the absence of democratically elected local government systems in their states.
The governors have been sued through their respective Attorneys General, and the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for this case on May 30. This suit represents a significant step towards ensuring the constitutional rights and operational autonomy of LGAs in Nigeria
