Activist lawyer, Femi Falana on Friday said state governors should study the Supreme Court judgment that granted financial autonomy to local governments in the country.
Falana said the Supreme Court ruling would promote accountability at the grassroots level.
Featuring on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said the ruling was not meant to strip the state governments of their influence over the LGAs.
According Falana: “A lot depends on the Nigerian people because right now, it is difficult to talk about the autonomy of the local government. The state’s electoral commissions are manned by appointees of the state governors.
“And what they have done over the years is to manipulate the local government elections in a way, that only the candidates of the ruling parties would be declared the winners.
“Now, local governments would be expected to fix some schools, tar some roads, and even pay some workers. So, it is not that state governments will no longer participate in the affairs of the local governments, the state governments should create state economic councils and allow the local government to participate in them, just like they are part of the federal economic council.
“The judgment has to be studied by the governors so that everybody will appreciate that what the Supreme Court has done is to promote public accountability at the grassroots levels.”
LG autonomy: Govs should study Supreme Court judgment – Falana
LG autonomy: Govs should study Supreme Court judgment – Falana
LG autonomy: S’Court judgment monumental victory for democracy – ADC
The Action Democratic Congress, ADC, says the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government councils is a monumental victory for the nation’s democracy.
The National Chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu, made this statement on Friday in Abuja.
According to him, the Supreme Court ruling affirming Local Government Financial Autonomy is an unprecedented political victory for the judiciary and a clear manifestation of how each arm of government can drive development by taking principled and patriotic positions for the interest of Nigeria.
“It is a great outcome for our democracy and catalyst for national development.
“My party, the ADC has continued to advocate for the active participation of the local government Area councils in running our affairs as the council is the authentic grassroot leadership any nation needs to make organic progress.
“Total Local government autonomy, financial and otherwise, are critical for grassroots development,” Nwosu said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for the bold step not minding his past and the antics of state governors and some of the legislators.
He also lauded the Supreme Court judges, who affirmed that all the local government councils across the country receive their allocations directly from the Accountant-General of the Federation.
LG autonomy: S’Court judgment monumental victory for democracy – ADC
New Rivers LGA Caretaker chairman appoints 100 SAs
The Caretaker Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chijoke Ihunwo, has set tongues wagging with the appointment of 100 Special Assistants a few weeks after his inauguration by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ihunwo who was inaugurated by Fubara on June 19 after a long battle by former occupants of the councils, swore in the Special Assistants on Thursday and charged them to work with the vision of the state governor.
“As the caretaker chairman of Obio-Akpor local government area of Rivers state, I have approved the appointment of one hundred special assistants,” Ihunwo posted on his X handle.
“While congratulating the appointees, I charge them to work effectively and key into my developmental agenda, and in line with the vision of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“As the Caretaker Chairman of Obio-Akpor local government area of Rivers State, a socio political group, the One Million Youths For Sim has adopted me as it’s BOT Chairman.
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“The group made the public adoption at an open event in Port Harcourt on Thursday,” he added.
He gave the names of some of the appointees as Clement Ifelen Nwaru, Augusta Dafugbo Jaja, Bariasa Juliet Doba, Chigozie Emmanuel Esinuelo, Stella Nkechi Worlu and Ogbonna Ezinne Stella.
Others are Charity O. Amadi, Ejekwu Theresa Nkiruka, Ijeoma Wosu, Orlu Grace Oluchi, Emilia Seibidor, Silverline Oluchi, Blessing Worlu, Blessing Ndidi Chinda and Wosu Elizabeth Obinuchi.
As the Caretaker Chairman of Obio-Akpor local government area of Rivers State, a socio political group, the One Million Youths For Sim has adopted me as it's BOT Chairman.
The group made the public adoption at an open event in Port Harcourt on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/igM5nXxvaz
— Chijioke Ihunwo (@AmbChijioke) July 11, 2024
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Nigerian Govt now run by kleptocrats – Ndume
The Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Ali Ndume says the Nigerian government is now being run by “kleptocrats”.
Ndume made this statement in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday monitored by TVN.
According to him, “The government is also populated by kleptocrats, but unfortunately that is not what the President is up to; he really meant renewed hope, but you can only do that when you have people around you that are on the same type of thinking.”
The lawmaker said he is worried about recent government policies, such as the cyber crime levy, which faced public opposition.
“When the President realized that he had not heard about it, he quickly suspended it.”
He highlighted the significant challenge of hunger and food scarcity, mentioning that inflation has risen to 40 per cent.
“In some places, even with your money, you won’t find the food items you want to buy, which is very dangerous,” Ndume added.
The Borno-born legislator explained that Nigeria has never been included among countries facing severe food crises or food insecurity, but recent UN and World Food Programme figures rank Nigeria as a hotspot.
He berated the limited access to the President, stating that some ministers only meet the President during council meetings and that the President is often the first to leave.
Ndume emphasized the need for the President to harness Nigeria’s natural and human resources, urging him to “get the right people into office” and dominate his government with democrats.
He supported the removal of the fuel subsidy, hoping it would eliminate corruption and allow savings to benefit the people.
He, however, suggested the introduction of food stamps to manage the subsidy issue better.
The senator recounted sending messages to people in the Presidential Villa about public anger, only to receive responses blaming the opposition.
Nigerian Govt now run by kleptocrats – Ndume
Jonathan, Akpabio in Rivers for N/Delta stakeholders summit
Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio have arrived in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital for the 2024 Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit.
The duo arrived at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, the venue of the summit in Port Harcourt at noon.
The summit has the theme: “Renewed Hope for Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta.”
Details later…
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LG autonomy: Supreme Court judgment, victory for grassroots – Group
The Concerned Citizens of North East, CCNE, has described the Supreme Court judgment mandating the immediate release of funds allocated to Local Government Areas as a monumental victory for the people at the grassroots.
The Secretary-General of CCNE, Babangida Muhammad, said this in a statement on Thursday in Gombe, stressing that the verdict signified a renewed commitment to decentralization and local governance.
The group said the decision enabled the LGAs to receive the financial resources necessary for development and governance to reinforce the principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance.
It added that the apex court’s judgment addressed the longstanding issue of funds misallocation and diversion, which has significantly truncated development efforts at the grassroots level.
“By upholding the constitutional provision that guarantees direct allocation of funds to LGAs, the court has taken a decisive step towards empowering local authorities and fostering sustainable development in the region,” CCNE said.
The group urged local government officials to utilize the funds transparently and efficiently, prioritizing projects that would have a direct and positive impact on the lives of the residents.
“We will continue to advocate for the rights and welfare of the people in our region, and we will monitor the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgment and work collaboratively with stakeholders to promote accountability and good governance at all levels in the region,” it said.
LG autonomy: Supreme Court judgment, victory for grassroots – Group
Several feared dead as school building collapses in Plateau
A two-storey school building in Plateau State has collapsed leaving many students and teachers trapped with many of them feared dead.
It was learnt that the school, Saint Academy located at the Busa Buji community in Jos North Local Government Area of the state collapsed on Friday morning around 8:30 am when many of the students and teachers were already in classes.
The news of the collapsed building jolted the community as distraught residents and parents who had their wards in the school were said to have rushed to the institution to ascertain their fate.
When our Correspondent visited the school around, many of the residents were seen wailing while security men and emergency workers were busy trying to pull survivors from the rubble.
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Lagos orders removal of shanties on canal setbacks to prevent flooding
The Lagos State Task Force has initiated the removal of shanties built on canal setbacks across various parts of the state, issuing notices to squatters and illegal occupants.
The move aims to mitigate the frequent flooding experienced during heavy rains in the metropolis.
In a statement on Thursday, spokesperson Gbadeyan Abdulraheem explained, “The notices were served today by the agency’s chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, at locations where squatters had erected shanties and makeshift structures too close to drainage systems, violating physical planning laws requiring a setback of at least 15 feet from canals.”
Akerele emphasized the urgency of the situation, describing the presence of squatters in these areas as a potential hazard exacerbated by unpredictable climate changes worldwide.
He identified specific locations targeted for clearance, including Soluyi Gbaada, Gbagada Bus Stop (Beside Atunrashe Estate), Charlie Boy Bus Stop, and Bajulaiye canal. Akerele noted reports of criminal activities linked to these shanties, such as bag snatching and vandalism, which pose risks to nearby residents and businesses.
Read also: Obaseki sets stage for handover, establishes transition committee
“The removal of these structures will not only mitigate flooding but also help reduce crime in the area,” Akerele assured residents.
Highlighting the unsuitability of shanties in a mega city like Lagos due to environmental concerns and their use by criminals, Akerele reiterated the state government’s commitment to enforcing physical planning laws and maintaining drainage setbacks.
The government’s action follows recent heavy rainfall that caused widespread flooding in early July. Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, attributed the receding floodwaters to the clearing of drainages and removal of encroachments on drainage setbacks.
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Lagos kidnappers: Henry Odenigbo not my friend – Yul Edochie
Controversial actor-cum-preacher, Yul Edochie, has clarified his relationship with movie producer and CEO of Ason-Rich Movie Production, Henry Odenigbo.
A filmmaker and actor, Stanley Nwoko, also known as Stanley Ontop, posted photos of the controversial producer, Odenigbo alleging him(Odenigbo) to be the ‘‘ringleader’’ of the kidnap gang, killed in the shootout by the Lagos State Police Command.
The Lagos state PRO Benjamin Hundeyin had disclosed that the kidnap gang plotted to abduct wealthy individuals in the state although he didn’t disclose the identities of the slain kidnappers.
Reacting to the development on Instagram, Edochie debunked rumours that he was a friend of the deceased.
He explained that the photo of himself (Edochie) and the deceased circulating on social media was taken in June on a movie set, adding that there was nothing more as that was his first time of meeting the man adding that the photo was taken at the request of the late filmmaker.
He said in part: “According to the police, the guy is a kidnapper. I’ve heard stories and noticed that some blogs posted my picture with him, implying he’s my friend. So, I want to state that the guy wasn’t my friend. I’ve been in Nollywood for 19 years, going on 20 years.
“I only saw this guy once when I shot a movie for him a few weeks ago. A director contracted me for a movie and paid me for a job. I even thought it was the director’s movie until I came to the set and met this guy.
“I think he called himself Ason-Rich Henry. He came to me, introduced himself as Ason-Rich Productions, and said his name was Henry.
“We greeted them, I shot the movie, and on the last day of shooting, he came to me and said he was so excited that he finally got to work with me. I think he also played a role in the movie. He asked if he could take a picture with me, and I said okay. We took pictures, and I left for the next set.
“That was the first time I saw him, and I never saw him again. That’s the picture a lot of people are circulating. I understand people are circulating the picture and saying he’s my friend. He is not my friend. I got to know him as a producer, and I don’t know why people are circulating my picture,’’ Edochie said.
Lagos kidnappers: Henry Odenigbo not my friend – Yul Edochie
APC counters Ekpo critics, highlights minister’s achievements
The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has condemned those criticising the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, for under-performance, describing them as idle and woeful assessors.
Recalled that there have been orchestrated but sustained campaigns, write-ups and insinuations in some quarters in the state by some individuals and groups against the minister in the last one year.
But reacting, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, OtoAbasi Udo on Friday, in Uyo, the state capital, the party said such an assessment of the Minister lacks objectivity and merit, adding that they ( assessors) have no empirical evidence to support their claims.
It therefore called on them and their sponsors to look elsewhere and allow the minister to concentrate and deliver on the mandates of his office.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of APC, Akwa Ibom State Chapter has been drawn to a bedlam of idle talks, write-ups, assessments and insinuations as regards the performance so far in office of the Minister of Petroleum Resources (gas)
“The assessment and critical analysis of these idle talks mainly from the quarters of detractors, motivated by the ‘bring him down’ syndrome for reasons best known to them lack in merit and objectivity. They are completely found wanting in any empirical evidence to back up and support their findings.
“To the idle and woeful assessors and their sponsors, the Party advises that they should look elsewhere. The minister should not be distracted as he continues to approach his duties with admiration of our party.”
While noting that the minister has done very well in the last one year by engaging and collaborating with international and local partners in the development and utilisation of abundant gas resources in the country, the party wondered about the parameters used in assessing him.
The statement added, “To start with, the Party would like to ask these woeful assessors of the Minister’s performance these pertinent questions. Are they comparing the record of the present Minister with the records of the previous Ministers in the Ministry? Are they measuring the Hon. Minister’s performance with the template set by who so that their tick-off of items done by the Hon. Minister scores him below the benchmark?
“If they are not up to something sinister, they would have known that this is a virgin Ministry brought into existence by the commendable initiative of the present administration headed by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to free gas administration from petroleum for more effective management and utilisation of the nation’s gas resources.
“In the President’s wisdom and magnanimity, he assigned Ekperikpe Ekpo to take charge of the new Ministry which puts extra demand on the Minister in terms of nursing a new baby to adulthood.”
Udo noted that the objective and sincere assessment of the Minister by the APC leadership, a platform upon which the present administration came into being and indeed all objective and sincere Nigerians, bestow on the Minister, a scorecard of performance as he keeps hitting the ground running by daily engaging and collaborating with international and local partners in the development and utilisation of the nation’s abundant gas resources for the benefit of all Nigerians, since assumption of office