Following the Nigerian Supreme Court judgement on July 11, which ruled in favour of local government financial autonomy, the African Network for Anti-Corruption (ANA) urges the Nigerian government to consider a constitutional amendment that will abolish state electoral commissions while transferring the responsibility of conducting local government elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The organisation made the call on Friday, July 12, 2024, in Kano at a press briefing held at the secretariat of the Nigerian union of Journalists.
Speaking at the event, Comrade Muhammad Musbahu Baskira, the organisation’s president, cautioned Nigerian governors against undermining the court decision by imposing candidates or sabotaging local government administration.
Baskira, who in his statement disclosed that “The African Network for Anti-Corruption will watch closely to ensure that local government autonomy is not compromised or abused by politicians in the country, we are aware that there are possibilities that some state governors may appoint their loyalists as local government council chairmen, which would undermine the spirit of the Supreme Court’s judgement.
You will agree with me that with this autonomy, Nigerians will see changes, and the local government will have the chance to provide better healthcare, education, and infrastructure for their communities.
They will also create jobs, stimulate the local economy, respond more effectively to local priorities, and reduce poverty and inequalities.” He continues
“Now that about 20 states have yet to have duly elected local government chairmans and counsellors, the court ruling has barred them from receiving local government allocations from July until they have conducted elections. However, the court decision will surely have a negative impact on the citizens of the affected states.
As good governance advocates, we therefore call on the following states: Jigawa, Anambra, Katsina, Kano, Rivers, Sokoto, Imo, Bauchi, Plateau, Enugu, Yobe, Kwara, Abia, Cross River, Benue, Osun, Oando, Delta, and Akwai Ibom, respectively, to ensure they act swiftly by conducting the election to strengthen democracy and citizens well-being and ensure that autonomy is not undermined”.
However, to ensure credibility, fairness, and transparency in the conduct of the local government election, we are urging the government to consider a constitutional amendment that will shift the conduct of the local government election to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).” He added
LIKE & FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, X, INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN & YOUTUBE
