The Ondo State Government has formally joined issues with the Attorney General of the Federation in a suit at the Supreme Court, seeking autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country, praying the Apex Court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
The Ondo State Government like other State Governments in its opposition to the federal government’s suit instituted by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, claimed that the federal government lacks locus standi to institute the suit for the local governments.
In the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by the Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olukayode Ajulo, he said that by the provisions of Section 162(8) of the 1999 Constitution, the amount standing to the credit of local government councils of a state shall be distributed among the local governments, and shall not to be prescribed by the federal government.
Recalled that the Attorney General of the Federation, acting on behalf of the federal government had dragged the 36 state governments before the Supreme Court, accusing them of misconduct in the management of local governments funds.
Meanwhile, the Apex Court will hear the matter on June 13.
