President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision affirming the statutory rights of local governments as outlined in the 1999 Constitution.
According to a statement by Presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale on Thursday, Tinubu noted that ineffective local government administration has hindered Nigeria’s progress. He emphasised that local council leaders must now ensure that services reach the broad spectrum of Nigerians at the local level.
Tinubu maintained that the “Renewed Hope Agenda” is focused on all Nigerians, regardless of their background, and stressed the importance of local leaders being accountable to the people. He mentioned that with the judgment, the funds allocated to local governments will be transparent, and services must be delivered without excuses.
The President explained that his administration pursued the legal case because of a strong belief that Nigerians deserve relief and effective governance at the local level. He noted that only elected local officials should control local resources, ensuring accountability and better service delivery.
Tinubu hailed the Supreme Court’s judgment as a significant step toward restructuring Nigeria’s governance and economy. He pointed out that the provision of essential services like road maintenance, street lighting, and community security had suffered due to the weakening of local governments.
The President commended the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for his efforts in the case. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting the principles of the Constitution and building an efficient governance system that works for all Nigerians.
The Supreme Court’s decision, he said, supports the financial autonomy of local governments and reinforces efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s federal structure for national development.
“This judgement stands as a resounding affirmation that we can use legitimate means of redress to restructure our country and restructure our economy to make Nigeria a better place to live in and a fairer society for all of our people,” Tinubu’ said.