Lagos doesn’t tamper with LG funds but…., discussants x-ray Supreme Court ruling on LG autonomy

 The government of Lagos does not tamper with funds of local councils, according to officials of the third tier in the state during the monthly Citizens Accountability And Rights Forum (CARF) held on Thursday, August 29.  

 

 

 

The event, organised by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), is a monthly town hall that serves as feedback for  implementers of policies (government), and beneficiaries of policies (citizens).   The topic for this interraction was “Prognosing into the Future of Local Government Autonomy in Lagos State: Prospects and Challenges.” 

 

 

 

 

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Adesegun Ogundeji,  said Lagos is not affected by the judgment of the Supreme Court on local government financial autonomy because the state has established a tradition of not tampering with council funds.

 

 

Council officials at the town hall, including chairman of Onigbongbo, Oladotun Olakanmi, vice chairman of of Epe, Sikiru Owolomoshe, representatives from Ojo local council, Bola Tijani, his counterpart from Eti-Osa, Suleiman Adekanbi all submitted that the state government does not dip hands into their money.

 

 

The chairman of Onigbongbo said: “Unfortunately, the autonomy granted through the Supreme Court ruling is financial, not absolute. But if you are looking at the autonomy granted, Lagos State is not affected. Lagos State has always allow local governments to deliver good governance.”

 

 

Prior to the ruling, states and local governments operate a joint account. The Supreme Court judgment now demand that the 774 constitutionally recognised local governments receive their funds directly from the federation account.

 

 

Lagos, however, has 57 local councils as opposed to the 20 constitutionally recognised that receive federal allocations.  

 

 

In his remark, Debo Adeniran, who presided over the panel discussion, highlighted the significance of the judgment to development at the grassroots.

 

Adeniran said: “Local Government is one of man’s oldest institutions. The earliest form of Local governments exists in the form of clan and village meetings. In fact, democracy itself originated and developed along the lines of local governance initiatives in the ancient Greek city states. One of the major functions of LG is to bring about meaningful development in the rural areas. As agents of rural development, LGs are to utilize the funds obtained from Federal and State Governments and their internally generated revenue to improve the lives of the people within their areas of operation such as: Initiating and attracting developmental projects like provision of access roads, water and rural electricity to the Local Government Area.

 

“It is important to appreciate the importance of the local government administration in any political and governance structure. Without doubt, it is the foundation on which the superstructure of the state is based and the most effective tier of government to meet the basic needs of the citizens as it is the tier closest to the people. The proper administration of the Local Government system is the fastest and most reliable way to bring development and the gains of democracy closest to the people of Lagos State.

 

“The recent pronouncement by the Supreme Court that granted financial autonomy to local government areas in the country may just be the catalyst that will change the turn of events for local administrations in the country. We viewed it as a significant milestone in promoting grassroots development, good governance, and democratic decentralization in Nigeria. The verdict will enable Local Governments to make decisions and take actions without needing approval from State Governments, they can now manage their finances, collect revenues, and allocate resources without state government interference. This will boost their independence and direct accountability to the electorates. They can now also focus on delivering services and development projects that will lead to better governance and accountability.

 

“We congratulate the LG administrators that the Supreme Court decision has conferred immunity against arbitrary removal from office and against tinkering with their funds from the federation account by state authorities. Notwithstanding, they should realize that they don’t have immunity against both civil and criminal prosecutions. They should therefore tread softly not to run foul of the extant laws against corruption, misuse and abuse of power.

 

 

“Although, some citizens have expressed their reservations about the level of corruption that may arise as a result of the financial autonomy granted the local government areas but on our own part, we believe that Lagos State signed on to the Open Governance Project (OGP), in 2020. That imposes a duty on government at all levels in the State to come clear on the activities of the government and put everything in the open. It should also be noted that local government Chairmen do not have immunity. They can be sued while in office. They can even be jailed while in office.

 

“On our part, we have itemized some of our plans to put local government administrators on their toes as far as prudent and judicious spending of resources in their coffers is concerned. These are as follows:

 

 

1. We will track all income to the LGA from Abuja. All that information is available from the federal budget office and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation. All financial receipts to all LG Council will be tracked diligently and meticulously.

 

2. We will officially write under the Freedom of Information FOI law, and demand for details of monthly FAAC allocations, monthly Internally Generated Revenue IGR, record of expenditure vis-à-vis, salaries and allowances of LG workers, political appointees, health and primary school workers, traditional rulers, etc.

 

3. We will officially write under the Freedom of Information FOI law, and demand for forensic examination of the total number of people on the LGA payroll and what their statutory pay is.

 

4. We will officially write under the Freedom of Information FOI law, and demand records of expenditure on LGA projects and interventions.

 

5. We anticipate that some LGA Chairmen will be recalcitrant to respond to our demands, so we are already working with some notable legal minds to ensure that we sue the Chairman concerned and ask the Court to compel the Council to make all details of the Council’s income and expenditure available to the public who own the money. We are prepared to file as many cases as can give us a victory on this. We believe that the courts will oblige.

 

6. We intend to give real time, accurate, factual and objective reports of local government area developmental strides and interventions.

 

7. If our money is misappropriated, embezzled or siphoned, we will drag the LG Chairman concerned to EFCC and ICPC. Remember LG Chairmen do not have immunity.

 

8. If any of the Chairmen does well and develops his LG, we will sing his or her praises to high heavens and roll the drums on the streets. We will continually take action in commending good deeds or condemning whatever we find untowardly in the way they administer people’s lives in their areas of jurisdiction.”