A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday called on the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) to hands-off issues relating to Alimosho Local Government.
The groups, comprising Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA); Campaign Against Impunity; Centre for Economics and Human Right Advancement and Ideal Society Advocacy Group among others, at a news briefing in Akoka, urged the LAHA to embrace the ruling of the Supreme Court and ensure its effective implementation, thereby creating an environment where local governments can thrive.
Speaking on behalf of the groups, HURMA Executive Director, Comrade Isiak Buna, called on the assembly to allow lawmakers in Alimosho Local Government deal with issues relating to their council, reports The Nation.
He said: “Alimosho and other local governments in the state are not appendage of the State Assembly. They are independent tiers of government enshrined in our constitution and recently authoritatively pronounced by the Supreme Court.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as governors and political leaders, to ensure the autonomy secured through the ruling of the Supreme Court is implemented in full. It is imperative that local government officials are empowered to perform their duties effectively, free from undue interference and control from higher levels of government. Political leaders, particularly the leadership of state assemblies and the governors with vested interests, must recognise that local governments are not mere extensions of state authority, but rather autonomous entities that are vital to fostering development, enhancing accountability and improving service delivery to our citizens.’’
Comrade Shina Loremikan of Campaign Against Impunity said the decisive action of Governor Sanwo-Olu in safeguarding the independence of local governance was commendable and reflected a commitment to democratic principles and the well-being of the people of Lagos State.
LAHA Chairman, Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, said law does not recognise sentiment and emotions.
According to Ogundipe, there are no local government areas that created themselves.
He said: “In other words, the creation of a local government follows strict processes of the law and Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) creates the path to knowledge about this.
“The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the government of every state shall, subject to Section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils. For better understanding, that section provides for the existence of: democratically elected system of Local Government to be guaranteed by a law of the State House of Assembly.’’
