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Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has asserted that the recent landmark Supreme Court decision granting full financial autonomy to 774 local governments in Nigeria will improve local governance, security and human rights.
Fagbemi made this statement on Thursday in Abuja during the 17th anniversary celebration of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA).
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He pointed out that local governments are closest to the grassroots, but have been under the tight control of state governors for the past two decades. He lamented that this control has crippled the functioning of the councils, with previous attempts to address the problem failing.
Expressing satisfaction that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action to correct this, Fagbemi said, “This administration, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is aware of the interconnectedness of governance with security and human rights, has taken the bold decision to approach the Supreme Court of Nigeria on this issue and a single judgment from the apex court will not only improve governance at the local government level but will also significantly improve security and access to human rights.”
He stressed the importance of the relationship between governance, security and human rights for the progress of societies, stating, “The relationship between governance, security and human rights is critical to the well-being and progress of any society. It is imperative that we explore this relationship to understand how we can better serve our citizens and protect their fundamental rights.”
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Fagbemi stressed that effective governance requires collaboration among all three branches of government, noting that poor governance can lead to erosion of rights and injustice. He also highlighted the role of the judiciary and the recent passage of the Minimum Wage Bill as indicators that better local governance can address underlying issues such as poverty and unemployment, which contribute to insecurity.
He said, “Without security, the enjoyment of rights such as freedom of movement, expression and association becomes impossible. However, security measures must always be balanced with the need to respect and protect human rights. Excessive use of force, arbitrary detention and other violations undermine the foundations of our democratic principles.”
The Attorney General also warned law enforcement officers against detaining people in detention beyond the time permitted by the Constitution. He warned that violation of this provision would result in punishment, stating, “I wish to remind our law enforcement officers that they must respect the law of the land and not detain people in detention beyond the reasonable period as provided in Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. Law enforcement officers must exercise due diligence before arresting anyone. Situations where people are detained beyond the time permitted by the Constitution or by court order will no longer be tolerated and appropriate sanctions will be meted out to those found guilty of violating the law of the land.”
Fagbemi reiterated his commitment as law enforcement chief to protect individual rights and ensure justice. He announced the creation of a Citizens’ Rights Department within the Federal Ministry of Justice to handle complaints effectively.
He also noted recent progress such as the 2024-2025 Strategic Action Plan by the Criminal Justice Administration Monitoring Committee and the formal signing of the Practice Directives and Guidelines on Detention Process by the FCT Chief Justice of the High Court, Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf.
Fagbemi concluded, “I am very pleased, because these innovative achievements in improving the detention system underscore our dedication to ensuring that the rights of suspects are protected and justice is served without unnecessary delay. In the same spirit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu relieved the Board of the National Human Rights Commission when he dissolved the Governing Boards of all Federal Government agencies.”
AGF Fagbemi explains impact of Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.
