The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudden Abbas, has hailed the recent Supreme Court judgment granting full autonomy to local government administration in Nigeria, calling it a historic milestone. Abbas highlighted the decades-long struggle for constitutional amendments related to local government autonomy, stating that this achievement marks the culmination of a 20-year effort.
Describing the judgment as transformative, Abbas expressed optimism for a future where local governments operate independently, serving their communities without undue interference from state governors.
“All members are elated because history has been made. For the past 20 years, one of the consistent issues in constitutional amendments by the National Assembly has been local government autonomy. Today, what seemed impossible has become a reality,” Abbas stated.
He emphasized the House of Representatives’ commitment to ensuring functional local government administration that works efficiently and extends services to the grassroots without constraints imposed by state governors.
The Supreme Court’s decision is viewed as a pivotal moment towards enhancing governance at the grassroots level in Nigeria, aiming to empower local governments and promote effective service delivery.