Zamfara To Obey Supreme Court Judgement On LG Autonomy

The Zamfara State Government has pledged to comply with the judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, granting full autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas (LGA) to enable them fulfil their mandate, especially as regards developments in the grassroots.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Mohammed Nakwada, made this known on Tuesday in Gusau at a workshop organised for the management and staff of the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC).

The SSG who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, Dr Lawal Hussein said Governor Dauda Lawal is committed to democracy and emphasized the need for a duly elected leadership to pilot the affairs of the LGAs in the state.

He said the Zamfara State government will put all measures in place to ensure that an election into the leadership of the LGAs is conducted and charged the commission to maintain principles of transparency and fairness, in the conduct of the elections.

He said “In July this year, the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered a landmark judgment granting financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country”,

“This ruling reaffirms the critical role of Local Governments as the third tier of government and the closest to the people”

“It underscores the need for democratic representation, which can only be truly achieved when elected officers, not appointed caretakers, govern these councils.

“The administration of Governor Dauda Lawal has, therefore, recognised the importance of putting all necessary measures in place to ensure the timely and democratic conduct of the forthcoming local government elections.

“This pre-election workshop is a testament to the administration’s unwavering commitment to democracy and the rule of law”

“Upholding the integrity of our electoral processes is a task of paramount importance, and this workshop serves as a platform to equip those who will be at the forefront of this crucial responsibility”

Chairman of the Commission, Sani Ibrahim Ruwan Doruwa, represented by Bashir Iliyasu Tsafe commended the State government for giving the commission all the necessary support.

“The Commission is heavily indebted to the State Government for extending its hands of support and financial wherewithal towards making it possible to hold this program,” he said.