Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, asserted that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has no legal authority to withhold local government funds in the state.
Last week, the Rivers State chapter of the Association of Local Government Areas of Nigeria (ALGON) accused Governor Fubara of withholding funds meant for the 23 local governments. ALGON stated that this action undermines the administration of the third tier of government, effectively crippling local government councils.
Shittu weighed in on the issue during Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s *Politics Today*. He emphasized that Fubara’s actions are unconstitutional.
“I can say for free that Governor Fubara of Rivers State has no constitutional powers to withhold local government funds. The local government tier of government is recognized by Section 7 of the Constitution,” Shittu said.
He elaborated that the constitution mandates democratically elected local government councils, requiring each state to enact a corresponding law to regulate their administration.
“The constitution recognizes the system of democratically elected local government council areas and mandates that each state provides a corresponding law. In the case of Lagos State, we have the Local Government Administration Law, which regulates the establishment, structure, finances, and other related aspects,” Shittu explained.
He concluded, “Clearly, Governor Fubara has no right under the law to withhold the funds of Ahoada Local Government or any other local government.”
