Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Some Legal Practitioners and analysts in Enugu State have hailed Supreme Court Ruling granting Financial Autonomy to Local Government Councils in the country.
Speaking in Enugu, in reaction to the ruling on Thursday, they said it was a step towards true democracy.
A legal practitioner, John Nwobodo, said that financial autonomy to the local governments was a gradual movement to the attainment of full democracy in Nigeria.
“It is a right step in the right direction; if it is well implemented, it may lead to true democracy.
“At least now, we know who to hold responsible if anything goes wrong,” he said.
Nwobodo, a former governorship candidate of Accord Party (AP), in Enugu State, however, said that he was still studying the ruling.
Another legal luminary, Onuorah Odoh, described the ruling as victory for the nation’s democracy.
“It is a sweet victory for the rule of law and grassroots governance in the country,” he said.
Odoh, who is also the Publicity Secretary of Labour Party (LP) in the state said the ruling was a welcome development.
A Public Affairs Analyst, Mr Steve Ofilli, said it was good for the local government growth in the country.
According to him, it will make democracy at the grassroots viable as the election will be conducted at the grassroots.
“By this, politicians will now contest election at the grassroots, no more god-fatherism.
“The era of the governor single handedly picking who becomes local government chairmen in their states is over,” he said.
Ofilli added that the autonomy of local governments was one of the good things that President Tinubu’s administration had done.
“It is no longer going to be business as usual as it would bring competition among the local government councils,” he said.
