LG Budgets Lawful, Backed by Supreme Court Ruling – Osun ALGON Chair, Abiodun Idowu
The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun State, Hon. Samuel Idowu Abiodun, has defended the recently presented local government budgets across the state, saying the process strictly aligns with constitutional provisions and the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government financial autonomy.
Abiodun, who also serves as Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government, spoke on a popular podcast, Lero Temi, hosted by Mukhtar Ajelogbon in Osogbo, amid growing debate over how the budgets were presented.
He dismissed claims that the budgets ought to be forwarded to the Osun State House of Assembly for approval.
According to him, the Supreme Court has clearly affirmed local governments as the third tier of government with the authority to operate independently of both federal and state governments.
“We did not breach any law. The Supreme Court has given clear guidelines and delivered a judgment affirming that local governments are a distinct tier of government, standing on their own just like the federal and state governments,” Abiodun said.
He explained that the apex court’s ruling empowers local government legislative arms to handle budgetary matters without interference from state assemblies.
“Some people insist that our budgets should go through the State House of Assembly. However, the Supreme Court ruling has granted local government parliaments the freedom to operate without such interference,” he stated.
The ALGON chairman noted that the Constitution empowers local governments to manage their financial affairs through elected councillors, who constitute the legislative arm at the council level.
“We have our own parliament made up of councillors operating under laws recognised by the Constitution. Budgetary matters fall squarely within their authority,” he added.
Abiodun further disclosed that the proposed budgets have already been presented to all 30 local government councils in Osun State and are currently undergoing scrutiny by the respective councillors.
“We have taken the budgets to all 30 local governments. They are being examined and cross checked by councillors, and in due course, they will be passed,” he said.
He expressed confidence that once the budgets are approved and implemented, the impact of governance would be felt more strongly at the grassroots.
“After implementation, the dividends of democracy will return fully to the grassroots for the people to enjoy,” Abiodun assured.
Drawing comparisons with practices in other states, he noted that Lagos State, as well as several states in the North and East, have already adopted systems where local government budgets are approved by council legislatures rather than state houses of assembly.
“In Lagos and other states, local government budgets are no longer taken to the State House of Assembly. They are taken to the council parliament. This system has come to stay,” he said.
Describing the development as historic, Abiodun said it is the first time local government parliaments in Osun State are being fully recognised and empowered in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy.
He concluded by stressing that budgetary issues are fundamentally financial matters that constitutionally fall within the jurisdiction of local governments.
“Once the councillors approve the budgets, they take effect immediately,” he said.