Former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the fiscal autonomy of local government council as a win for the people of Nigeria.
In a statement he personally signed, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 election said the verdict was a step in the right direction and a major corrective action in greasing the wheels of national development across the country.
He explained that the “decision by the Federal Government to consolidate disbursements of local councils’ revenues into the state government accounts was a decision that was borne out of politics of hasty compromise.”
He said he aligned with the decision of the Supreme Court that the structure of the Nigerian government was portioned in three layers, and of those, the local governments should be centres of development.
READ ALSO: Make positive impact in society, Lagos First Lady charges ‘corpers’
He stated further: “I also share the belief that fiscal autonomy to the local governments should not be limited to revenues from the Federation Accounts, but indeed, should apply to Internally Generated Revenue from the respective local government authorities.
“Many of our states, especially those in the ultra urban areas with high density economic activities, have become notorious in muscling local councils from generating revenue on items that border on motor parks, outdoor advertising, rents and many more.
“The verdict of the court is in tandem with the core functions of the Supreme Court as an arbitration court between and among governments.”
