Nigeria senate chamber
BY Dyepkazah Shibayan
The senate has asked state governments to comply with a supreme court verdict granting financial autonomy to local governments in the country.
The upper legislative chamber also resolved to ensure that there are alterations to the relevant portions of the constitution to ensure that LGs have financial autonomy.
The resolutions of the senate were sequel to a motion sponsored by Tony Nwoye, senator representing Anambra north, on Wednesday.
While moving his motion, Nwoye alleged that some state governments are enacting laws to undermine the financial autonomy granted by the apex court to the LGs.
“Despite the ruling and constitution, state governments use the state house of assemblies to enact laws to undermine financial autonomy for local governments,” he said.
“These actions by the state government, in the words of the supreme court, will suffocate the local governments.”
Osita Izunaso, senator representing Imo west, said there is a need to amend the constitution to ensure the financial autonomy of LGs.
“In supporting this motion, I would like to recall that there is an urgent need to amend the constitution to further guarantee its autonomy,” he said.
However, Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central, raised a constitutional point of order, saying that the matter should not be debated because the verdict of the apex court needs to be enforced.
Akpabio sustained the point of order which should have ended the debate, but Nwoye wanted to go on with his motion.
The uncertainty forced the upper legislative chamber into a closed-door for more than an hour.
After the closed-door session the senate adopted the aforementioned resolutions.
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