The Ondo State Government has officially entered into a legal dispute with the Attorney General of the Federation, contesting a suit at the Supreme Court seeking autonomy for the country’s 774 local governments. The state government, echoing the stance of other state counterparts, argues that the federal government lacks the legal standing to bring forth such a suit, branding it as an unwarranted interference in local government affairs. The objection, filed by the Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, outlines 27 grounds challenging the federal government’s jurisdiction and authority in the matter.
Asserting its position, the Ondo State Government emphasizes the constitutional framework governing local government finances, highlighting provisions that allocate funds directly to local government councils without federal government discretion. Moreover, it underscores the state’s legislative autonomy in enacting laws governing local government administration, reinforcing its opposition to federal intervention in local affairs. The state government portrays the federal government’s suit as a breach of constitutional principles of rule of law, democracy, and true federalism, insisting that the Supreme Court is not the appropriate forum for adjudicating disputes between federal and state entities.
As the legal battle unfolds, with the Supreme Court scheduled to hear the case on June 13, the conflict underscores deeper tensions between federal and state authorities over the extent of governance autonomy and the division of powers enshrined in Nigeria’s constitutional framework.