Share!
There is a stalemate and confusion in the Senate as the Upper Chamber over the feasibility for the implementation of the Financial Autonomy granted to the 774 Local Government Councils across the country by the Supreme Court in August this year.
Vanguard reports that Trouble started on Wednesday in the Senate soon after the sixth item which has to do with Petitions was handled when Senator Tony Nwoye, LP Anambra North came up with a Point of Order which was sustained by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio
Nwoye who came through orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, moved a motion on alleged moves by some state governments to circumvent the implementation of the judgement on LG Autonomy through counter laws from their respective State House of Assembly.
As he was still speaking to his colleagues at the hallowed Chamber, Nwoye ran into confusion over the matter, just as he told the Senate that nine other Senators had co-sponsored the motion.
He specifically alleged that some State Governors are already using their House of Assembly to enact laws that would mandate respective local government councils in their states to remit monies into State / Local Government Joint Accounts ruled against by the Supreme Court.
Immediately he rounded off his presentation containing six prayers for enforcement of the judgement and seconded by Senator Osita Izunaso, APC Imo West Senator Adamu Aliero, PDP Kebbi Central raised a constitutional point of order for stoppage of debate on the motion.
Adamu Aliero who cited section 287 of the 1999 Constitution that makes Supreme Court Judgement enforceable across the country, urged the Senate not to overflogged the issue.
Aliero said, “Supreme court judgement is enforceable across the country . There is no need for us to be debating anything that has to do with it here “, he said.
Agreeing with Senator Aliero, Akpabio raised another constitutional issue as he called on the attention of Senators to section 162 sub-section 6 of the 1999 constitution.
The section according to Akpabio, created the State / Local Government Joint Account, which has to be amended in paving the way for full implementation of the Supreme Court Judgement.
Akpabio said, ” I think what we need to do is to carry out required amendments of certain provisions of the constitution as far as local governments autonomy is concerned”, he said.
But before taking a final decision on the motion, the sponsor, Senator Nwoye hurriedly raised order 42 of the Senate Standing rules for personal explanation on the motion the same time, Senator Abdulrahman Summaila Kawu, NNPP Kano South ) raised a similar point of order.
The simultaneous points of Order brought confusion into the session with many senators rushing to the Senate President for a personal consultation, which eventually, made the Senate go to an emergency closed-door session at exactly 12: 46. pm.
Recall that the Supreme Court had in early August this year, barred the 36 governors of the federation from further retaining or utilizing funds that are meant for the 774 Local Government Areas, LGAs, in the country.
