36 govs lose suit against financial autonomy for LGAs
*As court upholds NFIU ’s regulations THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, dismissed a suit governors of the 36 states of the federation filed to query the constitutionality of regulations the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit , NFIU, issued to guarantee financial autonomy for local governments. The court, in a judgement delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, held that the suit lacked merit, adding that the regulations, which came to effect on June 1, 2019, was aimed at ensuring that funds meant for local governments were paid directly to them, rather than through a joint account controlled by governors. Besides, Justice Ekwo noted that provisions of the NFIU’s guidelines were not in conflict with 1999 Constitution (as amended). It will be recalled that the state governors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, had on May 27, 2019, through their Attorneys-General, approached the court to halt the implementation of the regulations. The regulations...