By Asakpa Ibobo
Delta State opposition leader and prominent lawyer, Barrister Moses Oddiri, has hailed the recent Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local government councils, calling it the sole significant achievement of Nigeria’s democracy.
Reacting to the landmark decision, Barr. Oddiri stated, “The Supreme Court decision granting autonomy to local government finances is the only achievement recorded since the advent of democracy in 1999. Governors were embezzling local government allocations through joint accounts set up for that purpose. Additionally, the barring of unelected officials from manning local governments is crucial.”
Oddiri, known for his derivation fund and environmental rights activism, expressed his strong disapproval of the governors’ actions, saying, “Thieving governors constitute the biggest threat to our democracy and the well-being of indigenes at the local government levels. It’s so, so terrible.”
On Thursday, July 11, the Supreme Court declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations. The court further ruled that state governments have no authority to appoint caretaker committees, asserting that local government councils must be led by democratically elected officials.
