Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, expressed his concerns regarding the recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government councils, stating that it has dealt “a severe setback on the principles of federalism.” In response to the ruling, Ibori emphasized the importance of upholding the constitutional provisions related to the distribution of funds between different tiers of government.
In his statement, Ibori highlighted the specific sections of the 1999 Constitution that outline the allocation of funds from the Federation Account to the Federal, State, and Local Government Councils. He argued that the Supreme Court’s decision challenges the essence of federalism by allowing federal intervention in local government affairs, which he views as a violation of the constitutional framework.
Ibori raised several key points regarding the implications of the ruling, including concerns about constitutional interpretation, the balance of power between different levels of government, state autonomy, financial independence, and the potential for setting a precedent for increased federal involvement in state governance matters.
His remarks underscore the broader implications of the Supreme Court judgment and its impact on the distribution of powers and resources within Nigeria’s federal system of government. The debate surrounding this ruling reflects a larger discussion on the nature of federalism and the division of authority between the federal government, states, and local governments….See_More
