Tinubu And Supreme Court Receive CSO Accolade For Upholding LG Financial Autonomy

Tinubu And Supreme Court Receive CSO Accolade For Upholding LG Financial Autonomy

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), the Nigerian Masses Alliance For Local Government Autonomy (NALGA), has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the Supreme Court for making local government across the country see the light of the day.

The group noted that the decision of President Tinubu to change narrative of local governments was an indication of doggedness, absolute resolve, sincere commitment and uncommon passion for grassroots governance as a panacea for overall development of the nation and every Nigerian state.

A statement jointly signed by NALGA national President, Com. Olaniyan Adewale and it’s National General Secretary, Com. Sodiq Sonibare described the judgement as transformation that will herald drastic and radical change that will redirect fortunes of local government and people at the grassroots.

The group maintained the Supreme Court Judgment will formalise total administrative and financial independence of local government from the aged long shackles of governors across the nation.

The statement reads,”It is with a delightful heart, joy and deep sense of gratitude that we join millions of Nigerians, particularly the Grassroots Masses in the 774 LGAs of the Nation to celebrate the long overdue ‘Democratic Victory’ in our democratic journey and history orchestrated by the landmark judgment of 11 July, 2024 by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“While this ‘Mother of democratic victory ‘ is being celebrated, we, under the aegis of the Nigerian Masses Alliance for Local Government Autonomy, an umbrella body and civil society group, who have over the years stood as vanguards and advocates of this struggle owe it a sacred duty to give Credit and Honour to the Number One Citizen of this great Nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who has shown doggedness, absolute resolve, sincere commitment and an uncommon passion for grassroots governance as panacea for the overall development of the nation and the Nigerian State.

“An autonomous, independent Local Government is the closest arm of government to the people that understands the people at the grassroots level and is able to deliver on the individual needs of those small communities.

“We state with every emphasis that indeed, this development is transformational and heralds a drastic and radical change that will redirect the fortunes of the local governments and the grassroots masses.

“It is specifically a significant victory for the grassroots masses of Nigeria and this affirms Mr. President’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’  for Nigeria and Nigerians.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is truly manifesting positively for the good of democracy and it will impact on the common man at the grassroots which is the bastion of democracy and development.

The civil society organisation boasted its delight in the judgement which it said had been its struggle for years as only through this the anticipated development at the grassroots and the country at large will come to play, including security and talent discovery and development of the common man, describing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a true democrat.

“Mr. President, we of the Nigerian Masses Alliance for Local Government Autonomy (NALGA) are a long time advocates of Local Government Autonomy, a struggle we have steered overtime with true commitment, sacrifice and equal passion (as yours).

“For a fact, the Supreme Court judgement has ‘put paid’ all our years of struggle and clamour, which effort came close to fruition in the year 2022, when then President Mohammadu Buhari proclaimed the ‘Administrative Order 10’ Granting Financial Autonomy to Local Governments, but which was immediately overturned by the Supreme Court then following a Suit filed the then Governors of the 36 States.

“Today, the dynamics have changed and history has been made as a finality to decades of abuse, emasculation and bastardization of the ‘Third-tier’ of Government of the Nigerian Federation.  True democracy is here to stay, courtesy of the ‘True Nigerian democrat’, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR (The Renewed Hope Advocate) of the Nigerian polity since independence.

“Suffice to again state that, this unprecedented development provides and will enable a ‘new political landscape ‘ in the Nigerian democratic experience. ‘Yes the poor grassroots masses can now breathe’. It is time for real grassroots development.  This  guarantees service delivery, grassroots security and self-discovery for the common man.”

NALGA also called the National Assembly to perfect the grey area in the nation’s constitution which still requires cogent and concurrent amendment to performance of the law in line with the Supreme Court Judgment as to avoid any form of ‘shortchanging’ or circumvention of the local government and restrict Governors by all means, against administrative interference.