The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the 36 State Governors and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike to immediately account for and return the Local Government funds which they have collected over the years.
In a statement on Thursday signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said:
“We applaud the Supreme Court for this groundbreaking decision which will end the persistent alleged misappropriation by several of trillions of FAAC allocations or public funds meant for local government.
“Following the Supreme Court judgement, there is now a clear legal precedent to hold governors and FCT Minister to account for how they have spent the local government funds collected by them”
The warning is coming after the Supreme Court barred the 36 State Governors of the Federation from further retaining or utilizing funds that are meant for 774 Local Government Areas in the Country.
Recall the apex Court ruled that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to LGA’s in their states.
It maintain that the practice which has gone for over two decades, was a clear violation of Section 162 of 1999 Constitution as amended.
In a lead judgement by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex Court held that no House of Assembly of any State has the power to make laws that could, in any manner, interface with monies meant for LGA’s.
Reacting to the judgement, SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, who described the judgement as epochal, said Nigeria’s 36 Governors and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) must account for and return funds meant for Local Councils or face legal action.
-9News Nigeria.
