Tinubu Under Fire for Ignoring Credible Local Government Elections
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has demanded that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu withhold allocations to states that have failed to conduct credible local government elections. According to the organization, several states are yet to hold local government polls, but still collect money from federal allocations meant for their local councils.
On October 5, elections were held in some states, including Rivers, Benue, Akwa Ibom, and Jigawa. However, most states are yet to conduct local government polls, leading to criticisms from SERAP. In a statement, the group’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urged the President to take immediate action to address the issue.
Oluwadare wants President Tinubu to direct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun, to withhold federal allocations to states that have failed to conduct credible local government elections. He also called for an end to the practice of paying federal allocations to unelected local government councils, and for the President to ensure that allocations are only paid to democratically elected councils.
According to the Nigerian Constitution, local government councils are entitled to a direct payment from the Federation Account to promote good governance, people’s welfare, and development. SERAP is calling on the President to take concrete steps to ensure that these funds are used transparently and accountability.
"We urge the President to enforce the Nigerian Constitution and prevent public wrong by state governors," Oluwadare said. "Where the rule of law reigns, political expediency ought to be sacrificed on the altar of the rule of law so as to guarantee the continued existence of institutions created to promote social values of liberty, orderly conduct and development."
The organization gave the President a seven-day ultimatum to comply with their demands. Failure to do so may prompt SERAP to consider taking legal action to compel the government to comply with its request in the public interest.
As the debate on local government elections continues to unfold in Nigeria, this development serves as a clear reminder of the importance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring that public funds are used for the benefit of the people.
