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Tag: LG AUTONOMY

  • LG Autonomy: FG explains delayed implementation

    LG Autonomy: FG explains delayed implementation

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has declared that the federal government did not give state governments a moratorium in the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement on full financial autonomy of the local government areas.

    The AGF explained that there is a delay in the full implementation of the apex court verdict due to the measures being put in place by the federal government towards achieving a successful implementation.

    Fagbemi spoke on Monday while addressing newsmen after he was honoured with an honorary degree during the 12th convocation ceremony and 15th Founder’s Day Event of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).

    According to him, there is no going back in the implementation of the judgement for the 774 local government areas to be given financial autonomy in order to ensure development at the grassroots level.

    He warned states not to commit contempt of court by disobeying the verdict of the Supreme Court, adding that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was determined to ensure all duly constituted and elected local government administrators received their allocations directly from the federation account.

    Fagbemi said, “Unfortunately, I know it has been in the media that they gave them (the governors) a three-month moratorium, which is not the position. The position is that yes, the judgement was delivered, but we felt that there is a need to put some things in place before the full implementation. That it is going to be implemented is sacrosanct; nobody can run away from it.

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  • Supreme Court Judgement: Nasarawa State Moves to Reform LG Structure

    Supreme Court Judgement: Nasarawa State Moves to Reform LG Structure

    The Nasarawa State Government has introduced a bill to the State House of Assembly aimed at revising the local government system in line with the Supreme Court’s recent decision on local government autonomy.

    The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for a Law to Repeal and Re-enact the Establishment, Structure, Composition, Finance and Function of Local Government System in Nasarawa State, 2024,” seeks to update the current framework to reflect the new mandate.

    During a recent session, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, noted that the bill represents a move to reshape the local government structure to align with the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial independence for local councils.

     The House Leader, Hon. Suleiman Azara, presented the bill for the first reading, with the Minority Leader, Hon. Luka Zhekaba, providing support.

    The state government’s plan, as outlined by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Jonah Dizaho, includes the removal of the joint account system and the elimination of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. 

    The second reading of the bill is scheduled for October 16, 2024.

  • Kano announce date for LG polls 

    Kano announce date for LG polls 

    The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has scheduled November 30, 2024, for the local government elections in the state.
    The Chairman of the Commission, Sani Malumfashi, announced the date while addressing a news conference in Kano on Wednesday.
    He said the notification of the election will be issued on November 15.
    Nomination forms will be available from October 1 to October 11, with submission of the forms due by October 18, 2024.
    He noted that the screening of candidates will take place from October 18 to October 20, while the list of eligible candidates will be released on October 24. The elections will follow thereafter.
    “We plan to release the results of the winners by December 10, 2024. This announcement is made under Section 103, Subsections 3 and 1 of the Electoral Act and the powers conferred on the Commission under Paragraph 3(4) of Part II, Third Schedule, Section 3(1) of the Kano Local Government Law 2004,” Malumfashi said.
    He said that the elections are being conducted following a Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, and the conduct will be in accordance with the law.
    Malumfashi also announced that candidates are barred from placing their posters on places of worship, schools, and government buildings. Anyone violating these rules will be punished.
    He said the Commission expects all the 19 political parties to participate in the election.
    According to him, the Commission will work closely with security agencies to ensure a peaceful election.
    “Kano, with 44 local governments and over 7 million voters, presents significant security challenges, particularly in light of current economic difficulties,” he said.
    He explained that the Commission will recruit about 13,000 ad-hoc staff to man the 11,000 polling units.