The senate has urged state governments to comply with a supreme court ruling that grants financial autonomy to local governments across the country.
Additionally, the upper legislative chamber resolved to amend relevant sections of the constitution to ensure local governments have financial independence.
These resolutions followed a motion presented by Tony Nwoye, the senator representing Anambra North, on Wednesday.
While presenting his motion, Nwoye claimed that certain state governments were enacting laws aimed at undermining the financial autonomy granted to local governments by the apex court.
“Despite the ruling and constitution, state governments use the state house of assemblies to enact laws to undermine financial autonomy for local governments,” he stated.
“These actions by the state government, in the words of the supreme court, will suffocate the local governments.”
Osita Izunaso, the senator for Imo West, emphasized the necessity of amending the constitution to guarantee the financial autonomy of local governments.
“In supporting this motion, I would like to recall that there is an urgent need to amend the constitution to further guarantee its autonomy,” he noted.
However, Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central, raised a constitutional point of order, arguing that the matter should not be debated since the supreme court’s verdict needs enforcement.
Akpabio upheld this point of order, which was expected to halt the discussion, but Nwoye insisted on continuing with his motion.
The disagreement led the senate to hold a closed-door session that lasted over an hour.
Afterward, the senate adopted the previously mentioned resolutions.
