Politics

By Hadiza Suleman Former Nigerian Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the judgement of the Supreme Court granting total financial autonomy to the local government councils in Nigeria is "as a step in the right direction". Atiku stated this in a statement on Thursday. According to him, the decision by the federal government to consolidate disbursements of local councils’ revenues into the state government accounts was a decision that was borne out of politics of hasty compromise. Mr Atiku said that the local governments should be centres of development and not otherwise. Quoting him, “The judgment of the Supreme Court earlier today…

By Hadiza Suleman The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Thursday, told the thirty-six state governors and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to account for local government allocations they had been taking custody of or face legal action. This followed the Supreme Court verdict that it is unconstitutional for states and the FCT to hold allocations meant for LGAs. The judgement followed a suit filed by the federal government aiming to make the 774 LGAs in Nigeria autonomous. SERAP said the apex court's decision would end the persistent misappropriation of FAAC allocations and public funds meant…

The former Senator for Enugu North, Ayogu Eze, is dead. He died this morning, Thursday 25th April, in Abuja. The Senator has been down with heart-related ill health since February which confined him most of the time, to his Maitama home in Abuja. Last February, Senator Eze was bubbly when he hosted his relatives, friends and the cream of his political associates for the traditional marriage of his daughter at City Park, Wuse II, Abuja. The event was chaired by his political mentor, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo. He lapsed into serious ill-health few days after and was unable to attend the…