UMUAHIA – Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said that the newly enacted Abia Local Government (LG) Law aligns with the spirit and objective of the Supreme Court’s recent judgment on local government autonomy.
Speaking during his monthly media parley, “Gov. Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” held Thursday night at the Government House in Umuahia, the governor emphasized that laws must be interpreted and applied in a way that supports effective governance and service delivery.
Otti said the law was designed to ensure the practical implementation of the Supreme Court’s July 11 judgment, which granted financial autonomy to local governments across the country.
“The Supreme Court actually made a law by that judgment, and whatever we did with the law we passed was to ensure that the intended objective of that law is achieved,” he stated.
He argued that while local government autonomy is essential, expecting councils to fully handle responsibilities such as paying teachers, healthcare workers, and managing security without state support could be unrealistic.
“It would be irresponsible for sub-nationals to fold their hands and watch, because local governments make up the state, just like states make up the federation,” Otti said.
The governor clarified that the Abia LG Law is not in conflict with the Supreme Court’s ruling but rather seeks to facilitate its successful and efficient implementation.
“Our aim is to ensure that it is implementable without creating hitches,” he said, adding that the law is intended to enhance governance at the grassroots and better serve the people of Abia.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on July 11 reaffirmed the financial independence of local governments, a move widely hailed as a step toward strengthening democracy and service delivery across Nigeria.
