By Rotimi Idris
A former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan and public affairs analyst, Mr Reno Omokri has described the Supreme Court verdict granting financial autonomy to Local Government Authorities as a significant victory for democracy in Nigeria.
In his words, “By ordering the Federation Account Allocation Committee to pay their federal allocations directly to LGAs, the Supreme Court has stripped Governors of their dictatorial powers over the third tier of government, and created additional checks and balances, because the LGA Chairmen will now be further emboldened to stand up to non-performing Governors and State Houses of Assemblies.
“The corollary to the judgment barring payment of federal allocation to LGAs without elected Chairpersons is another feather in the cap of democracy. It removes any incentive for Governors to impose their cronies and lackeys on LGAs, such as Peter Obi, who undemocratically refused to conduct LGA elections during his eight-year tenure as Anambra Governor.
“This is a just, courageous and commendable judgment, and their lordships, the Supreme Court Justices, have again proven that the courts are the last hope of the common man”