Former Minister of Transportation and two-term Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has strongly criticised the recent Supreme Court ruling mandating direct allocation of funds to Local Government Areas (LGAs) and banning caretaker committees. He described the judgment as constitutionally flawed, stating that such structural changes should come through legitimate constitutional amendments — not court verdicts.
Amaechi made these remarks on Saturday during a live X Spaces (formerly Twitter Spaces) conversation with political analysts and citizens.
---
🔍 Backdrop: Supreme Court Ruling on LGA Autonomy
On July 11, 2024, Nigeria’s Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling directing the federal government to:
Pay LGA allocations directly, bypassing state governments.
Bar governors from appointing caretaker committees to run local councils.
Withhold funds from any LGA operating under unelected caretaker leadership.
The ruling followed a suit filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who hailed the decision as a “decisive step to free local government from the shackles of the past.”
---
⚖️ Amaechi: Supreme Court Got It Wrong
Amaechi, however, holds a sharply opposing view.
> “That judgment by the Supreme Court was wrong,” he said during the X discussion.
“I will amend the constitution. I won’t go the way of the Supreme Court. I won’t go the way of the Tinubu government.”
According to him, the 1999 Constitution still mandates that local government funds go through the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) — a clause that remains unamended and, in his view, overrides the court’s interpretation.
---
📜 “I Will Push for a Huge Constitutional Amendment”
Amaechi reiterated his longstanding commitment to constitutional reform, especially in the areas of local government independence, restructuring, and electoral transparency.
> “There would be a huge constitutional amendment if I win. We will sit down with everybody that matters to discuss Nigeria, including local government administration,” he said.
“If I get to power, there would be independent local government authority — but that would be by constitutional amendment.”
---
🗳️ Proposed LG Reforms Under Amaechi’s Vision
Amaechi laid out a bold restructuring plan for local governance:
Truly independent LG authorities with clear constitutional backing.
Creation of independent electoral commissions not tied to governors.
Local government elections to be conducted by a neutral body — not state-appointed electoral commissions.
Tenure for LG officials to be clearly defined as 3 to 4 years.
After the tenure, governors will not control election timelines — instead, the electoral commission will autonomously conduct fresh elections.
> “I will not be part of those who want to hijack the state independent electoral commission,” he stressed.
---
🧭 A Push for Broader National Dialogue
Amaechi emphasized that true reform must come through collective dialogue and not unilateral government action.
> “We will sit down with everyone — legal experts, civil society, community leaders — and address the foundation of the country. That’s the only way to move forward.”
---
📢 For more political insight, reform updates, and leadership coverage, stay connected with Stone Reporters News.
🔗 Website: www.stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reports
Add comment
Comments