Activist Questions Attorney-General Fagbemi’s Commitment To Local Government Autonomy
Public activist Sesugh Akume has criticized Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for what he perceives as inconsistency and political maneuvering regarding the issue of local government autonomy. Akume questioned Fagbemi’s true intentions on the matter, highlighting contradictions between his past actions and current stance.
Earlier this year, Fagbemi filed a suit advocating for local government autonomy, which resulted in a favorable ruling by the Supreme Court. The court ruled that unelected local government councils should no longer receive FAAC allocations through state governments, but directly from the federal government.
However, Akume pointed out a contradiction: while Fagbemi sought and won this legal victory, the federal government has consistently opposed Akume’s two lawsuits that align with the Supreme Court’s decision. One lawsuit calls for the cessation of FAAC allocations to unelected local government councils, ensuring that funds go directly to the councils. The second seeks to allow local governments to directly access federal funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for primary and junior secondary education, instead of channeling these funds through state governments.
Akume, who has been involved in the legal push for local government autonomy since 2020, expressed frustration over the federal government’s opposition to both suits, which he argues reflect the spirit of the Supreme Court’s judgment. He also criticized Fagbemi for failing to respond to his letter, sent on June 7, regarding the government’s opposition to the lawsuits.
He noted that one of the cases related to UBEC funding has been adjourned to February 2025, while the other case was struck out in October due to his counsel’s sudden illness. Akume stated that they plan to file for a relisting of the case to ensure it is heard and determined on its merit.
Akume raised key questions: “Why does Mr. Fagbemi support FAAC allocations going only to elected local governments but oppose the monitoring process by agencies like NFIU, ICPC, and EFCC? And why does he support direct federal funding for local governments but not for education-related funds?”
Akume’s remarks suggest a growing concern over the lack of consistency in the federal government’s approach to local government autonomy, despite the clear legal backing from the Supreme Court.
