The Federal Government on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, warned that the illegal and unconstitutional method being adopted in the dissolution and taking over of local government administration in the country by state governors is a treasonable offence.
Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who stated the position of the Federal Government at the opening ceremony of an event organised by the Nigeria Bar Association in Abuja, noted that despite the judgement of the Supreme Court and the provision of the constitution guarding against the interference in the running of local government councils, some state governors and their state assemblies continue dissolving elected local government council without following the provisions of the constitution.
Fagbemi, who was represented by the Director of Civil Appeals in the ministry, Mr Tijani Gazali, castigated the Attorney General and Commissioners for Justice at the state level for not giving the needed legal advice to their governors.
The Attorney General of the Federation therefore called for a stiff penalty against any governor who carry out such an illegal act.
Fagbemi also specifically said that State Houses of Assembly lacked the power to suspend or remove council chairpersons.
Some of the State governors have been at loggerheads with some local government chairmen.
Specifically, the Edo State House of Assembly in December 2024, passed a resolution suspending all chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18 local government councils of the state for two months and also mandated leaders of the legislative arms to take over leadership of their respective councils.
Before then, Governor Monday Okpebholo had written the State House of Assembly over the refusal of the chairmen to submit financial records of their local government to the state government.
But, worried by the situation, the Attorney General of the Federation faulted the Edo State House of Assembly for suspending the chairpersons of the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.
Fagbemi declared that it was only the legislative arm of local governments that could sack or place council chairmen on suspension.
The Attorney General of the Federation stressed that under the current dispensation, local government chairmen cannot just be removed or suspended by any governor without following due process of law.
