The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the Supreme Court judgement granting unconditional autonomy to the 774 Local Government Councils.
The apex court had ruled that all the state governors should henceforth steer clear of the funds of the councils, stating that the control of the local government funds by the states was unconstitutional.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, in the suit, had sought full autonomy and direct fund allocation to the 774 local governments in the country.
The Supreme Court, in its lead judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, said that the state governors could not continue to hold on to the funds meant for local government administrations which have been going on for over two decades.
Based on the foregoing, the Supreme Court directed that local government allocations from the Federation Account should be paid directly to them henceforth.
In his reaction to the development, the Osun State chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal said that the Supreme Court judgement granting autonomy for the local government councils across the nation was a welcome development.
Lawal explained that it was long overdue and that it would catalyse, fast track and percolate the development of the rural areas as there would not be any excuse for any of the local government council chairmen not to perform.
The state APC chairman disclosed that the effect of the landmark judgement on Osun State is that all the appointed caretaker chairmen by Governor Ademola Adeleke have become a bunch of illegality in the eyes of the law of the land.
He stated that the elected council chairmen recognized by the Supreme Court judgement are the ones elected under the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy as it is on record that they went through the crucible of elections.
Lawal who explained that justice was not only given in the landmark judgement went further that judgement was duly served to the admiration of the highest percentage of the people of this country.