Nsukka, Nigeria – Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment, which ordered the Federal Government to send the monthly financial allocations of the country’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) directly to them, has elicited favourable response from local beneficiaries of the order.
At Nsukka, Nsukka local government area of Enugu state, for instance, residents on Friday welcomed the decision of the apex court, saying the measure will bring more developments to the grassroots.
In his reaction, Chief Joseph Ugwuoke, former Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, described the judgment as a good dividend of democracy that would bring more developments to rural people.
“It’s not enough to elect somebody as Local Government Chairman without giving the person a free hand to fully manage the finance of the council.
“I hail the judgment that restored the financial autonomy of all LGAs in the country.
“The judgment is a landmark decision in the history of the country and will go a long way to take more developments to all LGAs across the country,” Ugwuoke said
Dr. Chinedu Ejezie, a senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science University of Nigeria Nsukka, described the judgment as a welcomed development that would help to develop the grassroots.
“The aim of creating LGAs was to bring government and development nearer to the people because it’s the government that is closer to them.
“But unfortunately, some state governments in the country hijacked the monthly Federal financial allocations to LGAs, making it difficult for the councils to carry out their responsibilities as the third tier of government.
Ejezie said now that LGAs in the country would be receiving their allocations direct from Abuja, Chairmen of the councils will no longer have excuses for non-performance.
Mr Sonny Okoro, Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Nsukka chapter, commended the judgment which he described as the right step in the right direction in making LGAs to carry out their responsibilities.
“I commend the Supreme Court for this judgement,” Okoro said.
