Blame FG For Non-implementation Of LG Autonomy In States – Legal Experts

Legal practitioners have blamed the federal government for the non-implementation of local government in states despite the Supreme Court’s ruling on the issue.

The experts in separate interviews with LEADERSHIP in Ibadan declared that the issue would remain unresolved until there were constitutional amendments.

A legal practitioner, Peter Idowu, noted that local government autonomy was neither here nor there, saying, “It is not only Governor Seyi Makinde that fails to implement it but the federal government as well”.

According to him, not only has Governor Makinde not implemented the law, but the federal government has not done so either.

He argued that the constitution which created the Joint Local Government Account is yet to be amended, saying, “Until this is done, the law is still in existence.

“The Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy is a political judgment; hence, the federal government has not been able to implement the ruling.

“No state in Nigeria has been able to implement the Supreme Court ruling except in problematic areas like Osun State.

“By the combined effect of sections 1(1) & 162(6) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the state still retains enormous powers over local government administration in Nigeria.

“And this is why the federal government has been dormant on the implementation of the judgment of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy”, Idowu said.

He further argued that Sections 7, 8, and 9 of the Constitution gave enormous powers to the state on local government, including finance and “until the constitution is amended, the law stands.

Also speaking, Barrister John Sola Adeyemo said, “Is Seyi Makinde the only one? What has happened to others? Are the governors the only tier of government that have flouted Supreme Court decisions in the past?

“Why is the Local Government allocation still being sent to the JAC account and not to the LG account directly?

He, however, argued that Makinde’s failure to implement the ruling might affect his ambition, as the electorate would believe that if elected President, he would strangle the third tier of government.

Another implication, he said, was that the electorate who earnestly want grassroots efficacy would prefer to vote for a candidate who promises local government autonomy.

“The federal government that should sanction Makinde or other governors is weak because it needs them and their governments to secure a second term. If the Federal Government threatens, the Governors Forum can work against its success”, Adeyemo said.