Senate in emergency closed session over LG financial autonomy motion
On Wednesday, the Senate held an emergency closed-door session regarding a motion to implement financial autonomy for the 774 Local Government Councils, following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The emergency session was prompted by the presentation of a motion sponsored by Sen. Tony Nwoye (LP – Anambra) along with nine other lawmakers.
Nwoye had through orders 41 and 51 of Senate rules, while presenting the motion, alleged plan by some state governments to avoid execution of judgement of supreme court on autonomy of local government financing.
According to Nwoye, the State Houses of Assemblies were attempting to enact alternative laws for their respective states.
He specifically alleged that some state Governors were already using their House of Assembly to enact laws that would mandate local governments councils in their states to remit fund into State / Local Government Joint Account ruled.
Shortly after Nwoye’s presentation Sen. Osita Izunaso(APC-Imo)seconded the motion.
Izunaso said the motion was apt, saying that Nigerians were yearning for a change in local government administration.
He commended the executive for the judgement judgement, saying that local government elections were been conducted across the country.
He said for any state house of assembly to attempt to enact a law against on the matter was to attempt to undermine the supreme court pronouncement.
Sen.Adamu Aliero ( PDP- Kebbi) also raised a constitutional point of order to halt further the debate and contribution on the motion .
Aliero, having cited Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution as Amended which stipulates enforcement of Supreme Court Judgement across the country urged Senate not to further debate the motion.
”Supreme court judgement is enforceable across the country.
“There is no need for us to be debating anything that has to do with it here “, he said .
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio drew the attention of lawmakers’ to section 162 sub section 6 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
Akpabio, who read copiously the section said it created the State / Local Government Joint Account .
”I think what we need to do is to carry out required amendments of certain provisions of the constitution as far as local governments autonomy is concerned”, he said .
Nwoye and Sen.Abdulrahman Kawu ( NNPP- Kano ) raised further point of order.
The two points of Order, led into many senators approaching the Senate President for personal consultation.
This eventually, made the Senate to resolve into an emergency closed door session.
On July 11, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Councils.
In May, the federal government—through the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN—filed a suit at the apex court accusing the state governments of running the local government aground.