The Kwara State Government has stated that it is not in support of the move by the Federal Government to grant full autonomy to local governments in the country, News About Nigeria reports.
This is as the State Government asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the suit filed by the Federal Government seeking full autonomy for the 774 Local Government (LG) Councils in the country.
It registered its dissatisfaction in a legal process filed at the apex court by the Kwara Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim-Sulyman, arguing that granting the reliefs sought by the federal government will further impoverish most Nigerians who are downtrodden in the local government areas.
The State Attorney General also noted that dismissing the originating summons of the federal government and the reliefs sought therein would be in the interest of justice.
The AG said that funds meant for the local governments must be allocated to the state in a special statutory account and shall, in turn, be distributed to all the LGs in the state in such terms as may be prescribed by the state’s House of Assembly.
He added that the misconception of the federal government should be nipped in the bud because of an earlier decision of the apex court in a similar case between Abia State and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Recall that the Federal Government instituted legal action against the Attorney General of the 36 states over alleged misconduct in the administration of local government councils.
The suit, filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is seeking full autonomy for all local government councils in the country.
He prayed the Supreme Court for an order to allow the monthly allocations of LGs to be directly paid to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.
