LG Autonomy: ICPC talks tough, but mute on action against defaulting governors

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), on Friday, issued a stern warning to state officials who refuse to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy.

The Supreme Court had on July 11 affirmed the financial autonomy of local governments in Nigeria and rejected attempts by state governments to dissolve democratically elected local government councils.

Aliyu, speaking at the 6th Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, emphasized that local governments must be politically independent.

He stated that any state official who violates this Supreme Court decision would be held accountable for gross misconduct and abuse of office.

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The ICPC chairman reiterated his commitment to taking action against anyone who defies the Supreme Court’s ruling, saying, “As I have stated before, local governments must be politically independent, and any state-level official who violates this Supreme Court decision will be held accountable for gross misconduct and abuse of office.

“The ICPC is prepared to take action against anyone who goes against the Supreme Court’s decision on local government autonomy.”

The anti-graft agency did not however specify how it would take action against state governors who are the main culprits in the issue, and who by virtue of their positions are immune from prosecution as contained in the Nigerian constitution.

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