A non-governmental organisation, YADEI Initiative, has described the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy in Nigeria as a monumental step towards the freedom of democracy and represents a victory for every household in Nigeria.
The coordinator/research and team leader, YADEI Initiative, Comr. Inyanda Emmanuel, in a press release issued in Abuja yesterday, hailed the apex court’s decision which declared it illegal and unconstitutional for state governors to continue receiving and seizing funds allocated to LGAs within their jurisdictions.
This practice, which has persisted for over two decades, Comr. Emmanuel said, was recognised as a clear violation of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“In light of this significant development, the YADEI Initiative calls on all civil society organisations to join forces with us in sustaining the rule of law and ensuring that our leaders are held accountable. It is imperative that we work collaboratively to promote good governance and enhance democratic processes at the grassroots level in Nigeria,” the statement said.
The organization called for collaboration with civil societies to monitor and ensure the proper implementation of the Supreme Court ruling.
It also urged civil society to advocate for accountability–actively engage in advocacy efforts to hold state governors and local government officials accountable for adhering to constitutional mandates.
Civil societies, according to YADEI, should promote good governance, encourage and support the election of competent and democratic leaders in LGAs to foster transparency, efficiency, and development at the grassroots level.
They should also educate citizens about their rights and the importance of local government autonomy to enhance community participation in governance.
“Knowing fully, that the local government remains the closest tier of government to the people, good governance is the expectation of every right-thinking citizen. We must see ourselves as major actors and not slaves and spectators in the drive for a prosperous citizen-centered democratic setting.
“Bad governance, no doubt, fuels insecurity, poverty, unemployment, civil unrest and uncontrollable rural-urban migration.
” To sustain this historical autonomy, our leadership choice must be informed and transparent to avoid sycophancy and gross abuse of democratic dividends resulting to wastage, poverty and crimes.
” The on-going merciless and looming scarcity of food in the country is significantly triggered by the consequences of dysfunctional, weak and inactive local government system which is the base of agriculture, the statement said.
YADEI Initiative which said it was committed to creating a decent and organised platform for citizens to present their democratic needs, defend their democratic dividends, and hold leadership accountable at all levels of our democracy, said the Supreme Court ruling was a pivotal victory for grassroots governance in Nigeria.
