LG Autonomy: LP Hails S/Court’s Judgement

The Labour Party has hailed the Supreme Court judgement, which granted financial autonomy to Local Government Councils.

This is contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Obiora Ifoh, in Abuja.

According to the statement, though the judgment lingered, it is better late than never.

“We at the Labour Party (LP) welcome the Supreme Court’s decision granting financial autonomy to Local Government Councils in the 36 States of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory”, Ifoh states.

According to the statement, the judgement has put to rest the debate as to whether or not local government areas that are the closest to the ordinary people deserve to enjoy some form of autonomy to address challenges facing the masses within their jurisdiction”.

“We can now safely say local government areas now have greater freedom to initiate and complete projects which will reduce suffering at the grass roots,” he stresses.

“This autonomy comes with a huge responsibility on local government councils just as councillors now owe their constituents a duty to hold local government chairmen accountable by ensuring prudent management of their resources” the party spokesman emphasizes.

The statement further explains that expectation of Nigerians from the local government administration now is simple, stressing that they must now take up the challenge of this new found independence to ensure judicious use of public funds in their custody.

“We would also like to urge council chairmen not to see the additional inflow of public funds as an opportunity to engage in reckless spending and embarking on white elephant projects which can negate the whole essence of the financial autonomy granted them” Ifoh states.

PR/Georgina Humphrey