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
Mission to boldly grow food in space labs blasts off
ESA is funding the research to explore new ways of reducing the cost of feeding an astronaut, which can cost up to £20,000 per day.
Artwork: The experiment will orbit the Earth for three hours before returning to Earth and splashing down off the coast of Portugal.
(BBC): Steak, mashed potatoes and deserts for astronauts could soon be grown from individual cells in space if an experiment launched into orbit today is successful.
A European Space Agency (ESA) project is assessing the viability of growing so-called lab-grown food in the low gravity and higher radiation in orbit and on other worlds.
ESA is funding the research to explore new ways of reducing the cost of feeding an astronaut, which can cost up to £20,000 per day.
The team involved say the experiment is a first step to developing a small pilot food production plant on the International Space Station in two years’ time.
Lab-grown food will be essential if Nasa’s objective of making humanity a multi-planetary species were to be realised, claims Dr Aqeel Shamsul, CEO and founder of Bedford-based Frontier Space, which is developing the concept with researchers at Imperial College, London.
“Our dream is to have factories in orbit and on the Moon,” he told BBC News.
“We need to build manufacturing facilities off world if we are to provide the infrastructure to enable humans to live and work in space”.
News
President Tinubu returns from Europe
The President arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport, Abuja, at about 9:50 pm.
President Bola Tinubu last night returned to Abuja after a “working visit to France” that also took him to the United Kingdom (UK).
The President arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport, Abuja, at about 9:50 pm.
Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Spokesman, announced on his X handle that the President is back home.
Among those who received the presidency were the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has expressed deep sadness at the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis, who departed peacefully on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
In his condolence message, Governor Soludo extends his solemn condolences to the Catholic Church in Anambra State, Nigeria, the Vatican, and the global Christian community.
He said the loss of Pope Francis, a globally respected icon of faith, humility, and compassion, has indeed grieved the hearts of Catholics and all humanity as his lifelong dedication to championing the cause of the poor, fostering interfaith unity, and advocating for peace and justice has left the world a better place.
Governor Soludo further remarked that “Pope Francis was a shepherd whose legacy transcended borders” .
“His teachings on love, mercy, and solidarity touched base with the people of Anambra, inspiring the government to build a society rooted in dignity and hope” .
“Indeed, the Holy Father’s passing on Easter Monday, a day symbolising Christ’s triumph over death, is deeply instructive and a reflection on the enduring power of resurrection and hope” .
Governor Soludo however stands in solidarity with the global Catholic community during this period of mourning, celebrating a life extraordinarily lived in service to God and humanity, and praying for the soul of Pope Francis to find repose in the comforting grace of the Almighty God.
FG collected N6.9 billion mining fees across Nigeria in Q1 2025 – Dele Alake
Mission to boldly grow food in space labs blasts off
President Tinubu returns from Europe
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
Opinions2 days agoThe Backlash Against Enioluwa’s Tears Shows Why Nigerian Men Are Dying in Silence , by Halima Layeni
-
Crime3 days agoPolice rescue 10 kidnapped University of Benin students
-
Business3 days agoCBN warns BDCs, banks to tighten compliance on anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism regulations
-
Sports3 days agoPresident Federation Cup: NFF unveils venues, dates for quater-finals
-
News3 days agoBREAKING: Many feared trapped, as Building collapses in Ojodu Lagos
-
Business2 days agoThe Untapped Wealth in Inherited Family Lands: Turning Ancestral Property into Profitable Real Estate Investments in Nigeria by Dennis Isong
-
News3 days agoUPDATE: Four-storey building collapses in Lagos (Photos)
-
International18 hours agoPope Francis: Governor Soludo Consoles Global Catholic Community