Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has filed a legal action against governors of 36 states in the country over alleged misconduct in local government administration. The suit, filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, seeks full autonomy for all Local Government Areas (LGAs) as the third tier of government. The FG argues that Nigeria is a creation of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, with the President swearing to uphold and give effects to its provisions. The government argues that the constitution recognizes federal, state, and local governments as three tiers of government, drawing funds for their operation from the Federation Account. The Federal Government also argues that the failure of governors to put in place a democratically elected local government system is a deliberate subversion of the 1999 Constitution. The Federal Government seeks the Supreme Court to invoke sections 1, 4, 5, 7, and 14 of the constitution to declare that state governors and State Houses of Assembly are under obligation to ensure a democratic system at the third tier of government in Nigeria and that the governors cannot lawfully dissolve democratically elected local government councils.