Local Govt Autonomy: Pres. Tinubu drags 36 Governors to Supreme Court

The Federal Government has taken legal action against the 36 state governors at the Supreme Court to ensure the autonomy of local governments in the country.

In the suit filed on May 20, 2024, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is seeking an order to prohibit state governors from unilaterally dissolving democratically elected local government leaders.

The Federal Government is also praying the Supreme Court to order that funds meant for local governments be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account, as provided for in the Constitution, rather than being managed through joint accounts created by governors. Additionally, the government is seeking an order to stop governors from constituting caretaker committees to run local government affairs, which is contrary to the democratic system recognized by the Constitution.

Furthermore, the Federal Government is seeking an injunction to restrain governors, their agents, and privies from receiving, spending, or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for local governments when no democratically elected local government system is in place in the states.

The suit, marked SC/CV/343/2024, was filed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). Details of the case are still emerging.

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