Mr Oluwatobi Fatoki, a former Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, has said that the financial autonomy granted local governments by the Supreme Court will enhance healthy competition among them.
Fatoki, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday, said that the judgment represented the yearning of the Nigerian masses over the years.
NAN reports that the apex court had, on Thursday, ruled that state governors should henceforth steer clear of the funds meant for the 774 local government areas.
It also ruled that the control of the funds meant for local government areas by states was unconstitutional.
Fatoki stressed the need for full implementation of the judgment.
“If all the money meant for the local governments are directly paid to them without any undue interference from the states, it’s a step in the right direction.
“It will bring democracy closer to the masses, while unnecessary spending of money from states on things statutorily meant for local governments will end.
“There will now be a healthy competition among the local governments, as they will be working for all to see.
“It will also bring rapid development and make the masses to be able to hold their local government chairmen accountable,” he said.
The legal practitioner also said that the development would further deepen the country’s democracy and bring an end to the era of caretaker committee, while the winner-takes-all in council election would no longer exist.
He, however, urged local government chairmen to resist the temptation to tamper with the public funds in their care, as the masses and the media would hold them accountable for any mismanagement. (NAN)
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
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