Suspend LG Elections and Respect Council Tenures, Alfa Urges Bago as Call for Full LG Autonomy Intensifies
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has been urged to urgently suspend the scheduled local government elections set for November 25, to avoid cutting short the constitutionally guaranteed tenure of current council executives.
Barrister Mohammed Alfa, Chairman of the Human Rights and Judgement Enforcement Advocates, made the appeal during a press briefing in Minna, the state capital. He cautioned the governor against any move to dissolve or truncate the four-year tenure granted to elected local government officials under the Electoral Act 2022.
Alfa also emphasized the need for state governors to respect the financial autonomy of local councils by allowing unhindered access to their allocated funds, in line with the Nigerian Constitution. He referenced the Supreme Court’s July 11, 2024 judgment affirming full autonomy for local governments, lamenting that, a year later, many states have yet to implement the ruling.
Citing Sections 163(3) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution, he insisted that allocations from the Federation Account must be paid directly to the local councils. On the Federal Capital Territory, he clarified that Section 108(1) of the relevant Act mandates a four-year term for area councils from the date the chairman is sworn in or the legislative arm is inaugurated.
Alfa also challenged the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to demonstrate APC governors’ commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s poverty eradication agenda by ensuring complete local government autonomy before the next federal allocation is released. He concluded by warning that if no progress is made by August 25, his group would lead a grassroots protest in solidarity with local communities.
