Don’t Undermine LG Autonomy, Group Cautions Lagos Lawmakers

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• The Campaign Against Impunity (CAI) Nigeria urged the Lagos lawmakers to respect local government autonomy following the indefinite suspension of Hon. Jelili Sulaiman, Alimosho Local Government chairman.
• National Coordinator Comrade Sina Loremikan emphasised that local government chairmen can only be disciplined by their legislative bodies, not the State Assembly, in line with a Supreme Court ruling on autonomy.
• Deputy Speaker Kola Abe condemned the Assembly’s actions as overstepping constitutional boundaries, reiterating the importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting local government independence.

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Don’t Undermine LG Autonomy, Group Cautions Lagos Lawmakers

The Campaign Against Impunity (CAI) Nigeria, a non-partisan organisation, has urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to respect local government autonomy in light of a recent indefinite suspension of Hon. Jelili Sulaiman, the council chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area. The suspension was attributed to alleged non-compliance and defiance.

During a protest at the Assembly, National Coordinator Comrade Sina Loremikan stressed that the lawmakers lack the authority to sanction or determine the fate of local government chairmen, arguing that such actions contradict a Supreme Court ruling affirming local government autonomy throughout Nigeria.

“Just as the National Assembly cannot sanction a governor, the State Assembly cannot sanction local government chairmen,” Loremikan stated, drawing parallels between the relationships. He emphasized that the Supreme Court’s decision grants autonomy to local governments, meaning that any disciplinary measures against a chairman should be handled by the local legislative arm and councillors, not the State House of Assembly.

Loremikan further advocated for written communication regarding disciplinary actions to be sent to the State Assembly by the local council, reinforcing the independence of local governments. He highlighted the hard-fought nature of local government autonomy and its importance for democratic principles.

Supporting this stance, Comrade Kola Abe, Deputy Speaker of the Lagos People’s Assembly, condemned the Assembly for overstepping its constitutional boundaries. He reiterated that Lagos State is not a “banana republic,” urging lawmakers to adhere to the law.

“If the Supreme Court has granted autonomy to local government areas in Nigeria, there is no reason for the Lagos State House of Assembly to contravene the position of the apex court,” Abe remarked. He called for local councils to operate independently, asserting that the autonomy of local governments is a recognised legal right.

Both leaders condemned the Assembly’s actions, warning that such undermining of local government autonomy poses a threat to democracy and the rule of law. They cautioned that “an injustice to one is an injustice to all.”