Senate Moves to Amend Constitution for Local Government Autonomy

**Akpabio Vows to Implement Supreme Court Judgment

The President of the senate Godswill Akpabio has announced plans to modify the constitution to enforce the Supreme Court’s judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments.

The recent Supreme Court’s judgments on Local Government autonomy in Nigeria reaffirmed the constitutional guarantees of administrative, financial, and political independence for local governments.
The rulings seek to ensure that LGCs have control over their finances and administration, strengthening grassroots governance and promoting local democracy. However, the practical implementation of the rulings have remained a challenge, as state governments continue to wield significant influence over local government affairs.

Special Assistant on Media to the President of the Senate Jackson Udom in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday quoted Akpabio to have made the statement while receiving APC members loyal to Senator John James Akpanudoedehe in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

“The Senate, under my leadership, will tinker with the constitution to ensure the judgment is fully implemented without loopholes,” Akpabio said.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration supports the move, aiming to deepen democracy and promote accountability.

It would be recalled that the former APC scribe had defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), after losing out in the leadership of the party.

Speaking further on the return of the party members Akpabio said, ” the only thing that is permanent in life is change. Before my coming into the APC, the party never won even a councillorship seat in the state and I came into the party in 2018, the then leaders of the party saw me as an enemy.

“During the 2019 elections, the APC worked against the APC. We had the best chance to have won the governorship and other elections in the state, but the then leaders refused to see it from that angle.

” I joined the APC so that we would be linked to the center and I thank God today that that dream finally came to pass in 2023. I am today the President of the Senate, through the grace of God Almighty, the support of President Bola Tinubu and my distinguished colleagues who elected me.

“God knew that I meant well for our people, so he elevated me to the position of the President of the Senate. When you raise people, your hands remain up and when you bring people down, your hands will also be down. So follow person wey know road.”

“On behalf of the party leadership, I welcome you back. I am happy that you have all returned to the party where you belonged. Now that you are back, May God bless you and grant the progressive desires of your hearts.”he prayed.

Speaking on behalf of the returnees, who said they never left the party, even though their leader left, Eteubong Alex Umoh, Obong Kufre Akpan and Mrs Roseline Eyang said,” we never left the APC. We never joined any other party, because we know you as the leader of the party in the state. We all recognize the President of the Senate as our leader in the state. We refused to be weapons of war in the hands of anybody against you and the party leadership.

“We are happy that we are all here today. There is no division in the APC because we are now one united family.”