A spokesman for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked for election changes to ensure that the Supreme Court’s recent award of financial autonomy to local governments (LGs) is effective.
Felix Morka stated that, notwithstanding financial autonomy granted to the third tier of government, Nigeria cannot be said to have formidable LG administrations while governors continue to “handpick” chairmen for local governments in their states.
“According to my understanding, the Supreme Court was correct in granting local governments access to monies designated for them. I don’t believe this issue should spark the level of debate that I am seeing,” he remarked on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday.
“I agree that the entire system for regulating local government elections needs a thorough review by both state governors and federal authorities.
“They must collaborate to establish a system for conducting elections that ensures scrutiny, objectivity, and independence. Financial autonomy is a step forward, but if local government officials are still handpicked by governors, we’re not achieving true autonomy. Electoral reforms are essential,” Morka emphasized.
Last Thursday, the Supreme Court mandated financial autonomy for local governments, instructing the Federal Government to directly pay the 20.60% monthly allocation to the 774 local governments’ exclusive accounts, bypassing governors’ control.
The landmark judgment also prohibited governors from dissolving democratically elected local government councils.