The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has issued a stern warning to local government officials, cautioning them against violating the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy.
Speaking at a conference for judiciary correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, Fagbemi stressed that any attempt to interfere with local government funds would not be tolerated.
Fagbemi emphasized that governance at the grassroots level has long been neglected, but with the enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling, local governments are expected to thrive.
He stated, “The suffering at the grassroots has been enough. The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to correcting the past injustices and positioning Nigeria among the top nations globally.”
He further pointed out that while state governors are protected by immunity, local government officials do not have such protections.
“Local government chairmen and councilors need to understand that if they misuse local government funds, they face imprisonment,” the AGF warned.
“They have a choice: either to misappropriate funds and risk jail, or contribute positively by improving their communities, such as building or upgrading roads, schools, and hospitals. The future of local governments is in their hands.”
In July, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of local government financial autonomy, prohibiting governors from controlling local government funds and ordering that allocations be paid directly to local government accounts.
This landmark decision aims to enhance local government autonomy across the country.
