By Okechukwu Jombo
Senate yesterday moved to grant full autonomy to Local Government Administration in consonant with Supreme Court ruling recently
This is coming on the heels of a motion by Senator Tony Nwoye who had moved that the Senate rise up to the occasion and curtails some Governors who are exploiting the Constitution to call for joint account with State and Local Governments
The motion threw the Senate into confusion leading to the calling for an executive session by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio
At the resumption of sitting after two hours, Senate President, Akpabio explained that they had agreed that the Supreme Court decision on the matter is paramount and must be followed which is that local government be treated wholly as the third tier of government
To this effect, Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibril moved that the prayers of the motion as moved by Nwoye were supported. He was seconded by Senator Abdul Ningi
The prayer was that Local Governments’ funds be paid directly to them as ruled by the Supreme Court
He also moved that the Senate do everything including amendment of the Constitution to support the full autonomy of local Government Administration in the country. He was supported by Senator Tahir Mungono.
The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that Local Governments must be led by democratically elected Chairmen and Counselors and not appointed transitional Administrators to attract direct funding from the Federal Government.
This had cancelled the joint account with State Governments.