News
BREAKING: Supreme Court Orders Funds be Paid to LGAs Directly (UPDATED)
Nigeria’s Supreme Court has ordered governors of the country’s 36 states to henceforth steer clear of the funds meant for its 774 Local Government Areas.
The Apex Court says the control of funds of the local government councils by the States is unconstitutional.
This judgment is in respect of a lawsuit instituted by the Federal Government through the Attorney General of the Federation against the 36 state governors in a move to ensure full independence of the local government areas from the control of the state governors who until now controlled the funds and constitute caretaker committees to run the affairs of the local government areas.
In a landmark judgment delivered by a seven-member justice panel headed by Justice Lawal Garba, Nigeria’s Apex Court says the Constitution under Section 162 (4,5 and 6) doesn’t provide for the existence of a joint account for both the States and local government councils.
In the lead judgment prepared and read by Justice Emmanuel Agim the Court orders that, henceforth, funds meant for the Local Government Councils be paid to them directly from the Federation Account and not through the State governors.
The Court holds that the provision of the Constitution that funds meant for the local government councils be sent to the States is for them to act as agents of the Federal government for the onward disbursement of same.
It adds that the States are therefore not required to hold on to the money and use at will.
It holds that the States are exploiting the roles handed to them by the Constitution by holding onto funds meant for local government councils.
The Court also laments this has been on for over two decades, crippling the effective functioning of the third tier of government.On the aspect of the full autonomy of the Local Government Areas, the Apex Court says the state governors have for over 20 years constituted themselves “a species most dangerous” to the democratic structure of the local government councils.
It holds that Caretaker Committees installed by these governors is illegal as they have no powers to do so.
In a unanimous decision, the Apex Court further holds that the leadership of the local government councils must be by democratic means, insisting no state governor has the powers to dissolve democratically elected local government leadership and install their choice officials to run the local government councils.
As such, the Apex Court has also ordered the governors to desist from receiving, spending or tampering with funds released from the federation account for the local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in the states.
It therefore holds that the constitution of Nigeria recognizes federal, states and local governments as three tiers of government and that the three draw funds for their functioning from the federation account created by the constitution.
The Apex Court orders immediate compliance by the state governors to the judgment.
News
Benjamin Hundeyin Takes Over As New Force PRO
The IGP urged Hundeyin to deploy his wealth of experience in communications and security to further strengthen the image of the Nigeria Police Force and sustain robust relations with the public.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved the appointment of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Benjamin Hundeyin as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).
He takes over from DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who served as Force PRO until his redeployment.
Hundeyin, a graduate of English Language from Lagos State University, also holds a Master’s degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan.
He further obtained a Certificate in Civil-Military Coordination from the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Training Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.
The new FPRO is an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), a Member of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM).
A seasoned communicator, Hundeyin previously served as the Police Public Relations Officer at Zone 2 Command, Lagos, and later at the Lagos State Police Command.
He was also part of Nigeria’s contingent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan, in 2020, and at different times worked at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, as Administration Officer in the Public Relations Department.
The IGP urged Hundeyin to deploy his wealth of experience in communications and security to further strengthen the image of the Nigeria Police Force and sustain robust relations with the public.
The legendary Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91, his company announced on Thursday.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the fashion house said in a statement.
The fashion house said that Armani “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones”, noting that he remained committed to his craft until the very end.
“Tireless, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, its collections, and the diverse and ever-evolving projects both existing and in progress,” the statement read.
Ohibaba.com reports that Armani founded his eponymous label in 1975, revolutionising global fashion with his trademark sleek, understated designs.
His style soon became synonymous with elegance and sophistication, extending beyond clothing into lifestyle, interiors, fragrances, and luxury accessories.
Over the decades, Armani dressed Hollywood stars, world leaders, and athletes, building a global empire that redefined Italian fashion on the world stage.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Thursday, commence a working vacation in Europe, as part of his 2025 annual leave.
The president’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, made this known in a terse statement.
According to him, the vacation will last 10 working days.
He explained that Tinubu will spend the period between “France and the United Kingdom and then return to the country”.
This is coming barely two weeks after the president returned from Brazil.
Benjamin Hundeyin Takes Over As New Force PRO
BREAKING: Iconic Italian Fashion Designer, Giorgio Armani Dies at 91
BREAKING: Tinubu proceeds on holidays, departs Abuja for UK, France
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