President Bola Tinubu has lauded the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s decision affirming the constitutional rights of local governments.
He noted that ineffective local government administration has long hindered the nation’s progress, with governance at the grassroots level nearly absent.
The President stressed that local council leaders must now ensure that citizens benefit from effective service delivery.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is for all Nigerians, irrespective of faith, tribe, gender, or political affiliation. This judgement allows our people, especially the poor, to hold their local leaders accountable. Funds allocated to local governments will be transparent, and services must now be provided without excuses,” Tinubu stated.
“My administration pursued this case because we believe in providing relief to our people. Today’s judgement ensures that only elected local officials will control local resources. It affirms that we can use legitimate means to restructure our country and economy, making Nigeria a fairer society for all,” he added.
Tinubu highlighted that essential services such as road maintenance, street lighting, parks, and community security have suffered due to the weakening of local governments.
The President affirmed that the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the financial autonomy of local governments is historically significant and reinforces efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s federal system for national development.
He commended the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for his diligent and patriotic work on this case.
The President concluded that his administration remains committed to upholding the principles governing citizens and government institutions, aiming to build an efficient and performance-driven governance system that benefits all Nigerians.
