The president of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ambali Olatunji, says the supreme court ruling favouring financial autonomy for local governments will address more than half of the problems in the country.
NAN reports that Olatunji made his comment in Lagos on Thursday and stressed that the achievement stands for freedom and sets a new dawn for Nigeria.
The supreme court had earlier ruled that the federal government from now on pay allocations directly to local government councils from the federation account.
A seven-member panel of justices, whilst delivering the judgment in the litigation on Thursday held that state governments have persistently abused their powers by withholding and using the funds meant for LGAs.
The highest court in the land also directed the federal government to retain allocations of LGs that are governed by unelected officials appointed by the governor.
Speaking, Mr Olatunji, said that the financial autonomy of the LGs would also combat the problems of insecurity, lack of jobs, poverty, and infrastructural gaps at the grassroots.
“We believe that with the local government autonomy judgment, over 50 per cent of Nigerian problems have been fixed,” the NULGE president said.
“Also, we hope there will be financial integrity at the local government levels and all financial transactions will be tracked.”
Mr Olatunji also said the union will collaborate with anti-corruption agencies to ensure growth and development.