House of Reps to FG: Withhold Allocations to States with Unelected Local Government Officials

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to suspend allocations to states operating under a Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) instead of elected local governments. This resolution follows a motion of urgent public importance presented by Rep. Gaza Jonathan (SDP-Nasarawa) and Rep. Ademorin Kuye (APC-Lagos) on Tuesday.

The lawmakers emphasized the necessity for the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to establish a special account for funds meant for local governments managed by unelected officials. These funds should be held in escrow until proper democratic elections are conducted.

The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Address the Refusal of State Governments to Uphold Democratic Principles in Local Governments and the Financial Impropriety of Unelected Local Government Officials,” highlighted the critical role of local governments as envisioned by the Nigerian Constitution. Jonathan and Kuye stressed that local governments are the closest tier of government to the people and are fundamental to the structure of both state and federal governance.

They argued that the dissolution of democratically elected councils violates Section 7 of the Nigerian Constitution, citing Supreme Court rulings which declare such actions a direct affront to democracy. The legislators pointed out that an increasing number of states, now numbering 21, are governing local councils with caretaker committees, a practice they described as impunity and a disregard for constitutional mandates.

“This trend is a deliberate effort to undermine democracy, frustrate accountability, and impede the development potential of local governments,” they stated.

In response, the House mandated its committees on state and local government affairs, as well as finance, to collaborate with the RMAFC to enforce the withholding of allocations. Furthermore, the House urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to initiate legal proceedings against any state that unlawfully terminates the tenure of elected local government officials.