Senator Tony Nwoye of the Labour Party, representing Anambra North, has taken a significant step to safeguard local government funds by moving a motion to prevent Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and other governors from interfering with these funds.
Nwoye invoked Senate Standing Orders 41 and 51 to raise this motion, citing concerns that some state governments are attempting to bypass a Supreme Court judgment by passing counter-laws through their State Houses of Assembly.
Specifically, Nwoye alleged that some governors are enacting laws requiring local government councils to remit funds into the State/Local Government Joint Account, which contradicts the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Nine other senators co-sponsored the motion, which included six prayers for enforcing the judgment.
However, Senator Adamu Aliero of the Peoples Democratic Party, representing Kebbi Central, raised a constitutional point of order, referencing Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution.
This section states that Supreme Court judgments are enforceable nationwide, implying that further debate on the motion is unnecessary.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio concurred with Aliero, highlighting Section 162, Subsection 6 of the 1999 Constitution, which established the State/Local Government Joint Account.
Akpabio noted that amending this provision is crucial for the full implementation of the Supreme Court judgment.
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