A former gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara State, Barrister Issa Manzuma, has expressed doubts about the compliance of state governors with the Supreme Court’s judgment granting financial autonomy to local government councils in Nigeria.
He argued that without amending the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, implementation of the ruling would remain difficult.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, in Ilorin, the renowned legal practitioner stated, “The Supreme Court judgment does not automatically amend the Nigerian Constitution. Section seven ( 7 )of the 1999 Constitution provides that the system of democratically elected local governments is guaranteed, but it also places the responsibility for their establishment, structure, functions, and finance squarely on state governments.”
Manzuma highlighted that this constitutional framework has allowed governors to wield significant control over local government administration, often influencing the outcome of local council elections in favour of ruling parties in their respective states.
“The recent local government elections across the country, where ruling parties in various states emerged victorious, is a clear reflection of the existing system,” he noted.
He further criticised the practice of appointing sole administrators under the guise of elections, arguing that it undermines the autonomy of local councils. According to him, governors effectively dictate the leadership and administration of local governments, contrary to the principles of financial and administrative independence.
Manzuma stressed that for true autonomy to take effect, local governments must be allowed to access their federal allocations directly. He contrasted Nigeria’s situation with other democracies where compliance with judicial rulings is immediate and unambiguous.
“In functional democracies, a Supreme Court judgment is declaratory and takes immediate effect without the need for an executive committee or further intervention,” he remarked.
Reflecting on past attempts to amend the constitution to ensure local government autonomy, Manzuma noted that such efforts were often thwarted by state governors mobilising state legislatures to block the process.
Given the entrenched nature of the issue, he proposed the formation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution that addresses these challenges comprehensively.
“Without a fresh constitutional framework, the much-needed financial and administrative autonomy for local governments in Nigeria may remain elusive,” Manzuma concluded.
