A former Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Oluwaseun Abimbola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has urged the Oyo State government to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling granting fiscal autonomy to Local Government Areas (LGAs). In an interview on Sunday, Abimbola stressed the importance of adhering to the apex court’s decisions, emphasizing that no sub-national government should act contrary to such judgments.

Abimbola’s comments came in response to the Oyo State government’s decision to review the Supreme Court’s ruling and consider taking actions that align with its preferences. He underscored that, under the constitution, all decisions made by the Supreme Court are binding and must be obeyed. He also pointed out that while states may have their laws, these laws must be respected, as democracy requires compliance with judicial rulings.

Additionally, Ibadan-based human rights lawyer Olatunde Fatola criticized the Oyo State government’s move to review the Supreme Court’s judgment as “laughable” and a “self-mockery.” Fatola highlighted that the Supreme Court’s decision is binding on all persons and authorities, and any attempt to undermine it would weaken Nigeria’s democracy on the global stage. He noted that the Supreme Court’s ruling should have been initiated by the LGAs themselves, but the Federal Government took the initiative. Fatola also mentioned that each LGA in Oyo State is entitled to receive a minimum of N347 million monthly to manage their affairs, but they have only been receiving N12 million.

In a related development, the 33 council chairmen in Oyo State have withdrawn from the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in response to the Supreme Court’s judgment. In a communiqué signed by all the chairmen, they expressed their unwavering support for the state governor, Seyi Makinde.