Igbo chieftain, Onwusoanya Ezendigbo lauds FG, judiciary on LG autonomy
By Chinedu Emeruwa Chinedu
Ex-presidential hopeful, Chief CBN Onwusoanya Ezendigbo, has lauded the judgment of the supreme court of Nigeria, granting financial autonomy to local government areas in the country.
Recall that the apex court had in its lead judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim on Thursday, mandated the Federal Government to begin immediate and direct payment of local government funds to their exclusive accounts.
The Supreme Court criticized the state governments’ decades-long refusal to grant financial autonomy to local governments.
Reacting to the verdict in a statement on Saturday, Ezendigbo commended the apex court of the land for its courageous and landmark verdict, halting the excessive interferences of the states government in the affairs of local government system.
“Granting autonomy to local governments will bring numerous benefits, including improved accountability, enhanced grassroots development, increased efficiency, and the attraction of competence and capacity.
“To address potential challenges, we must implement strategies like competitive recruitment, training programs, performance-based incentives, decentralization of powers, and improved working conditions.
“A constitutional review is necessary to amend Section 162, ending the joint account of state and LG, ensuring local governments become recognized third-tier governments, free from state governors’ control, and getting INEC to conduct the LG elections.
“We must strengthen the legal framework to prevent any attempts to reverse the gains made”,the Igbo chieftain advised.
Ezendigbo admonished state governors to accept the decision of the supreme court in good faith and in the interest of the nation’s democracy
He also urged governors who are yet to conduct local government council area elections in their respective states to do so, in order to ensure dividends of democracy gets to the doorsteps of the people at the grassroots.
Ezendigbo who doubled also as founder of Better Nigeria for Better People, further applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi and all the supreme court justices that played a role in landmark achievement for Nigerians.
