By Abubakar Yunusa
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to withhold federal allocations from states that have failed to conduct credible local government elections, citing the need for accountability and adherence to constitutional requirements.
In a statement released on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urged President Tinubu to instruct the Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun, to withhold funds from the Federation Account for any state that has not conducted democratic local elections.
According to the group, these funds should only be distributed to democratically elected local government councils, as mandated by the Nigerian Constitution and reinforced by a Supreme Court ruling delivered on July 11, 2024.
Local government elections were held in some states, including Rivers, Benue, Akwa Ibom, and Jigawa, on October 5, but many other states have yet to organise their polls.
Despite this, these states continue to receive federal allocations intended for their local councils, a situation SERAP deems unconstitutional and inappropriate.
“State governors cannot be allowed to control or manipulate local government councils at their whims,” Oluwadare said.
“It is essential for the rule of law and the principles of democratic governance that only democratically elected councils manage these funds.”
SERAP also called for greater transparency, urging the government to provide detailed information on which local councils have received federal allocations and whether those councils were elected through credible democratic processes.
The organisation warned that if no action is taken within seven days, it will consider legal measures to compel the government to act in the public interest.
SERAP’s demand underscores the need for Nigeria’s federal and state governments to ensure local governance adheres to constitutional standards, promoting accountability, transparency, and development across the country’s local government areas.
