News
Autonomy only way to save LGs from paralysis— Shehu Sani
A civil rights activist and social critic, Sen. Shehu Sani, says local government autonomy is the only way to strengthen governance at the grassroots and save council areas from paralysis.
Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly and served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts,said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday
NAN reports that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice recently filed a suit at the Supreme Court against state governments, seeking the enforcement of full autonomy of the local governments in Nigeria.
In the suit marked: SC/CV/343/2024, the Federal Government urged the court to issue an order prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders.
The government urged the court to issue an order permitting funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.
Besides ,FG prayed the Supreme Court for an order stopping governors from further constituting Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of local governments as against the constitutionally recognised and guaranteed democratic system.
It equally applied for an order of injunction,restraining the governors and their agents and privies ,from receiving ,spending or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in states.
The 36 governors were sued through their respective Attorneys General.
Reacting, Sani said that the step by the federal government had potential to restore development at the grassroots and strengthen the local government system.
“Local Government autonomy is the only way to save the LGs from bankruptcy and paralysis.
“Poverty and insecurity in the country is rooted in the destruction of the local government system,” Sani said.
According to him, most council chairmen only go to their offices when federal allocations are released.
He said lack of financial and administrative autonomy for the local government had affected the performance of the third tier of government.
Speaking further, Sani described FG’s proposal that State Electoral Commissions (SIECs) should be scrapped as a good move,saying scrapping SEICs would deepen democracy at the grassroots.
“The scrapping of SIECs is a step in the right direction.
“It has become impossible for opposition parties to win elections at the LG level because of the institutional rigging and imposition of candidates by state governors.
“The chairmen of SIECs and staff of SIECs are all agents of the state governors and of the ruling party in their respective states, ” Sani said.
NAN recalls Mr Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-general of the Federation and Minister of justice, had on Monday proposed that State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) should be dispensed with.
Speaking at a one-day discourse in Abuja, Fagbemi also posited that the powers of SIECs should be transferred to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Fagbemi said governors had exploited the flaws in certain sections of the 1999 constitution, effectively rendering local governments powerless and irrelevant.
According to him, these inadequacies have allowed the governors to abuse the rights of local governments by using SIECs to impose leaders on them through sham elections.
He said other governors who do not conduct sham polls appoint vassals as caretaker leaders for the local governments.
Fagbemi called for a robust constitutional amendment that will remove all hindrances to the development of local governments, and bolster their ability to fulfil their constitutionally recognised mandate(NAN)
News
Group Accuses Gov Dauda Lawal of Imposing Impunity, Suspending Constitution for Selfish Reasons
Gives Reasons for State of Emergency in Zamfara State
The Northern Democratic Watch (NDW) has accused Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State of imposing impunity and suspending the constitution for selfish reasons, leading to a constitutional crisis in the state.
According to NDW President, Amb. Mahmud Abubakar, the governor’s actions have resulted in the emergence of two rival factions of the State House of Assembly, creating a constitutional nightmare that has left citizens bewildered and abandoned.
Abubakar cited the unlawful suspension of ten duly elected members of the House of Assembly without credible legislative procedure or fair hearing, effectively disenfranchising thousands of Zamfara citizens.
The NDW demanded an immediate and independent investigation into the crisis, reinstatement of the suspended lawmakers, nullification of the 2025 budget process, and declaration of emergency rule in Zamfara State to restore law, order, and constitutional governance.
The group described the crisis as a fundamental threat to Nigeria’s democracy, urging the National Assembly to act with courage and urgency to restore democracy and protect citizens’ constitutional rights.
The NDW called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invoke his constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, temporarily suspending existing political structures to restore peace, stability, and constitutional governance.
“In flagrant violation of the Constitution and the principles of natural justice, ten duly elected members of the Zamfara House of Assembly were suspended indefinitely,” Abubakar said at a press conference.
“No credible legislative procedure was followed, no fair hearing was granted, and no constitutional safeguards were respected. These actions, based solely on political differences and personal vendettas, have effectively disenfranchised thousands of Zamfara citizens, stripping them of their constitutional right to representation.
“Worse still, a bizarre situation has emerged where two parallel legislative houses are operating independently of each other, enacting conflicting resolutions, and creating a constitutional nightmare that has left the citizens of Zamfara bewildered and abandoned.
“Under this atmosphere of impunity, the state government has gone ahead to claim the passage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill; a process so compromised, so fraught with illegality, that it calls into question the very foundation of governance and fiscal responsibility in the state.
“The existence of two parallel Houses of Assembly in Zamfara State is not just a local embarrassment; it is a direct assault on Nigeria’s democracy. It is a violation of the rights of the electorate who entrusted their votes to their representatives. It is a repudiation of the rule of law and a dangerous slide into lawlessness that must be urgently arrested.
“Given the seriousness of the situation, the Northern Democratic Watch (NDW) makes the following demands:
“Immediate and Independent Investigation:
We call on the National Assembly to immediately launch an independent, transparent, and credible investigation into the unlawful suspension of the ten lawmakers and the emergence of parallel legislative factions in Zamfara State.
“We demand the immediate reinstatement of the ten illegally suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly. Their suspension is unconstitutional, illegitimate, and represents an unacceptable violation of their rights and the rights of the people they represent.
“The purported passage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, conducted under such illegal and chaotic circumstances, must be immediately nullified. We urge the National Assembly to supervise a proper legislative process that respects constitutional order, due process, and democratic norms before any budget can be deemed valid in Zamfara State.
“We call on the National Assembly to, without delay, advise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invoke his constitutional powers by declaring a state of emergency in Zamfara State.
“The world is watching. Nigerians are watching. History is watching. The National Assembly must act with courage, patriotism, and urgency.”
Demands Full Disclosure on Refurbished Refineries
A coalition of lawyers and civil society organizations (CSOs) today submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), seeking full disclosure on the status of refineries refurbished during the tenure of Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer.
The Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, leading the coalition, demanded transparency and accountability on the reported expenditure of $4 billion on refineries repairs.
Led by Comrade Ogwuche Emmanuel, the group alleged inflation of refineries rehabilitation contracts, fraudulent allocation of crude oil proceeds, misappropriation of funds, and other questionable practices during Kyari’s tenure from July 2019 to April 2025.
The FOI request seeks specific details on payments to consultants and contractors, crude oil allocations, budgetary provisions for the AKK Pipeline Project, documentation on gasoline imports, and information on crude-backed loans and oil exploration activities.
The group emphasized the need for accountability and restoring public trust in NNPCL’s operations.
They urged the NNPCL to provide the requested information within the stipulated timeframe under the Freedom of Information Act.
“We are concerned about the growing reports of monumental Inflation of the Refineries Rehabilitation Contracts with allegations that the costs of refurbishing the refineries were significantly inflated, Fraudulent Allocation and Mismanagement of Crude Oil Proceeds, Misappropriation of Funds in the AKK Gas Pipeline Project, Fuel Subsidy Fraud, Value Review for NNPCL’s Crude-Backed Loans, and Fraudulent Oil Exploration Activities that have yielded no benefits to the nation,” the letter signed by Comrade Ogwuche Emmanuel said.
“Our findings, supported by reliable intelligence, suggest a pattern of institutionalizing of these questionable practices during Mallam Kyari’s tenure. As an organisation of law-abiding Nigerians, who are affected by these identified issues, we require information to seek judicial intervention.
“Consequently, we require the following information from July 1, 2019 to April 29, 2025: Specific details of payments to consultants and contractors, work scopes, and the justification for payments for the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries.
“Information regarding crude oil allocations and financial transactions under the guise of pipeline security payments. Details of the budgetary provisions, foreign financing arrangements, and physical progress of the AKK Pipeline Project.
“Documentation including ship records, bills of lading, and discharge certificates for gasoline imports during the stated period. Information regarding the structure, terms, and purposes of crude-backed loans taken from 2019 to date.
“Documentation and feasibility outcomes of oil exploration activities in Gombe, Bauchi, Ogun, and Nasarawa states. Given the gravity of the allegations that necessitated this request, it is imperative that the NNPCL provides full transparency on the expenditures and activities undertaken during Mallam Kyari’s tenure”.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman for Zamfara State, Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani, has lauded Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, for his unwavering support.
The commendation came as Danfulani presented his appointment letter as the new Board Chairman, Federal Medical Centre, Azare, Bauchi state, a position conferred by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During a visit to the minister’s office, Tukur Danfulani expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu for the trust and opportunity, pledging to execute his duties with integrity and dedication to align with the president’s expectations.
“I am profoundly grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for this appointment and his generosity,” Danfulani said.
He also acknowledged Dr Matawalle’s consistent backing, crediting the minister’s support as instrumental to his new role.
In response, Dr Matawalle urged Danfulani to uphold honesty, commitment, and patriotism in his leadership at the Medical Centre, emphasising the importance of serving with distinction.
The appointment marks a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare administration, with Danfulani expected to bring his experience to enhance the operations of the Federal Medical Centre in Azare, Bauchi state.