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Supreme Court Ruling on Local Government Autonomy Sparks Jubilation and Calls for Reform in Kwara

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2024

The Supreme Court of Nigeria’s recent ruling on local government autonomy has sparked widespread reactions in Kwara State. The court’s decision grants full autonomy to local governments and mandates the Federal Government to cease allocations to local governments without democratically elected council officials.

In Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, there was jubilation among local government staff and residents. Lasisi A.K. Jimoh, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the judgment as long overdue. He stated, “If the constitution says the existence of a democratically elected local government is constitutionally guaranteed, then where do you have a caretaker and payments being channelled through state governments to local governments? The constitution also states that the local government is the third tier of government. Will one tier be under another tier, and is the state under the federal government? I expected the judgment to go a bit further to pronounce emphatically that there cannot be a caretaker committee under the constitution which we are operating now because a caretaker committee is not a local government.”

Babatunde Muhammed, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the judgment was long expected. He criticized the current administration for not conducting local government elections for the past five years. “For the past five years, this is the first time in the history of the state that we have unelected council officials running the affairs of the 16 local governments in the state,” he remarked. Muhammed argued that the inability of local governments to receive their allocations directly from the federal government has hindered their development.

Reflecting on his own experience, Muhammed said, “I was opportune to contest and be elected as a councillor here in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State in 1990. Our election was handled by the National Electoral Commission, and our monthly allocations came directly from the federal government to the local governments. We spent three years during our tenure between 1991 to 1993, and local governments were able to embark on many laudable projects beneficial to the people at the grassroots.”

He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation for pursuing the matter to the Supreme Court, ensuring the realization of local government autonomy as anticipated by Nigerians.

Oyinlade Seun, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Kwara State, expressed elation over the ruling. “We are overwhelmed as we declared fasting and prayers since Wednesday and Thursday on the autonomy issue. We are sure our governor will comply with the judgment to give true and pure autonomy to the local governments in the state to guarantee grassroots development,” he said. Oyinlade believes that with full autonomy, issues such as insecurity and food insecurity that hinder development at the local level will be significantly addressed.

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NNPP Disowns Planned Protest Against INEC

Published

3 months ago

January 19, 2026

By Omoniyi David

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has disowned a planned protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in Abuja and other parts of the country.

In a statement issued Monday from its National Secretariat in Abuja, the party said reports linking it to the proposed protest were false, describing the planned demonstration as illegal.

The statement, signed by the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, said the organisers of the protest were impostors and not members of the party.

The NNPP cited a Federal High Court judgment delivered on April 18, 2024, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1354/2024, in which Justice Emeka Nwite upheld the expulsion of the individuals involved.

The party urged the public and security agencies to disregard any attempt to associate it with the protest, reaffirming its commitment to lawful and democratic engagement.

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2025 Awards Night: ACCI Spotlights Business Excellence, International Collaboration

Published

4 months ago

December 16, 2025

Editor

By Ade Iyamoye

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), on Tuesday celebrated outstanding contributions to enterprise development and international cooperation at its 2025 Awards and Dinner Night, with a renewed commitment to building a resilient, globally competitive business community.

Speaking at the event held at the Prince Adetokunbo Kayode SAN Trade and Convention Centre, ACCI President, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, PhD, said the awards night was a moment of appreciation for businesses and individuals whose innovation, perseverance and investments continue to drive Nigeria’s economy.

Obegolu said the Chamber had made “meaningful progress” over the past year in line with its vision to strengthen infrastructure, facilitate trade, build capacity, professionalise the Secretariat, expand global partnerships and reposition the ACCI brand.

He highlighted the ACCI Business, Entrepreneurship, Skills and Training (BEST), Centre as a key intervention aimed at skills development and entrepreneurship, preparing members and young Nigerians to compete locally and globally.

According to him, ongoing projects around the Chamber are designed to create a sustainable commercial ecosystem and long-term value for members.

The ACCI president also underscored the importance of engagement with government institutions, development partners and the diplomatic community, noting that such collaborations have enhanced the Chamber’s credibility and positioned it as a vital platform for dialogue.

“The presence of ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps here tonight underscores the growing international interest in Abuja as a business destination,” Obegolu said, adding that business, beyond profits and policies, is ultimately about people.

He reaffirmed ACCI’s commitment to delivering value to members, growing its membership base and attracting investment that will contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and global competitiveness.

On his part, the Brazil’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Garcete, commended ACCI for its role in deepening bilateral trade and cultural relations between Brazil and Nigeria, describing 2025 as a “remarkable year” for relations between both countries.

Garcete cited multiple high-level exchanges, including visits by President Bola Tinubu to Brazil for the G20, BRICS and a state visit, reciprocal visits by ministers and vice presidents of both countries, and Nigeria’s participation in COP30.

He particularly praised ACCI’s instrumental role in the Brazilian trade mission led by ApexBrasil, which brought over 40 Brazilian companies and more than 60 business leaders to Nigeria, the largest standalone Brazilian business delegation to the country.

Receiving the ACCI Award for Promotion of Cultural and Economic Exchange on behalf of the Brazilian Government, Garcete described the honour as both recognition and a call to sustain strong cooperation, expressing optimism for deeper collaboration in 2026.

The event brought together captains of industry, diplomats, partners and stakeholders for networking and celebration, reinforcing ACCI’s role as a bridge between Nigerian enterprise and the global business community.