Onyeche Wofurum Igwe
A civil society organization, Human and Environmental Development Agenda HEDA, has petitioned the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, demanding the immediate suspension of local government allocations to Rivers State.
HEDA made this demand on Monday, in a petition it also copied to the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamsedeen Ogunjimi.
The group said the demand to halt the LGAs allocations was following an alleged constitutional violations and disregard for Supreme Court ruling.
In the letter addressed to the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, HEDA Chairman, Mr Olarewaju Suraju, condemned the appointment of a sole administrator by the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the declaration of state of emergency.
According to HEDA, “the Supreme Court ruled in 2024 in Attorney General of the Federation v. Attorney General of Abia State & Ors that local governments must be governed by elected officials and the appointment of LGA sole administrators lack constitutional authority.
“The law is settled; local governments must be run by elected officials and any disbursement of funds to unconstitutional administrators not only contravenes Section 7 of the Constitution but also undermines the rule of law.
The group demanded for a prompt action from the CBN. “We expect prompt action from your office in compliance with the constitution and the apex court’s decision. Anything short of this is a blatant disregard for democratic governance and the rule of law.”
HEDA is an anti-corruption and advocacy organization, focused on human rights, environmental protection, and good governance.
