General
Supreme Court Decision on LG Financial Autonomy Excites PROMAD
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The judgement of the Supreme Court on Thursday granting financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas of the federation has continued to elicit reactions.
The latest is from a civic tech organisation promoting participatory democracy and social accountability, PROMAD, which in a statement said the landmark judgement marks a significant victory for grassroots governance and development in Nigeria.
“We welcome this landmark judgement on local government administration in Nigeria. This will end the practice of illegally reducing the local government to a mere appendage of governors in the country.
“The Supreme Court’s decision on local government allocations will ensure that the funds meant for the third tiers of government will no longer be routed through state government accounts and hence empowers the local government executives to meet the needs of the grassroots people,” the founder and executive director of PROMAD, Mr Daisi Omokungbe, said.
He said the new development was in tandem with the work of PROMAD at bridging the gap between citizens and government through evidence-based strategies and civic technology, with a strong emphasis on accountability, participation and development.
“PROMAD has consistently advocated for increased civic participation and accountability in governance through initiatives such as TheCivicMatters, Election Analytics, FollowTheProjects, and the Grassroots Advocacy Project (GRAP), focusing on needs assessment for budgeting in the grassroots communities.
“This judgment further empowers our efforts to amplify grassroots voices, ensuring that communities can participate fully in budgeting and decision-making processes.
“We commend the Supreme Court for this progressive ruling and the Federal Government for championing the cause of local government autonomy,” he said.
Yesterday, the nation’s apex court barred state governors from holding local government funds and allocations in the country.
In the judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, who led a seven-member panel of justices, it was noted that the practice of governors receiving local councils on their behalf was unconstitutional and directed the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to transfer local government funds directly to them.
Additionally, the court has ruled that governors cannot dissolve democratically elected local government officials, deeming such actions a breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
The federal government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), dragged the governors to the court to resolve the long-standing accountability issues in local government administration in Nigeria.
PROMAD submitted that by granting financial autonomy to local councils, they will now have the financial independence to address the unique needs and priorities of their communities more effectively, fostering a more responsive and participatory governance system, adding that citizens should brace up to hold local government officials accountable.
By Dipo Olowookere
The ex-depot prices of two major petroleum products, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, have been slashed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.
The company announced the reduction in prices of the products in a statement on Saturday evening.
The Lagos-based private refinery said its latest action was to reinforce its commitment to making refined petroleum products more affordable and supporting economic activities across Nigeria.
The cut in the prices of petrol and diesel by Dangote refinery comes as the global crude oil prices continue to moderate, amid expectations that the United States of America and Iran will agree on a ceasefire very soon and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
This narrow vessel passage accounts for 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil consumption. It has been closed for more than two months because of the Middle East crisis.
On February 28, 2026, America and Israel launched airstrikes in Iran, killing its Supreme Leader and other top government officials.
Iran fought back by attacking US bases in the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and others. It also shut down the Strait of Hormuz, causing the price of oil to almost hit $120 per barrel.
The crisis faraway in the Middle East, rather than becoming a blessing to Nigeria, put citizens under untold hardship, as the price of petroleum products, especially PMS, jumped from around N800 per litre to almost N1,500 per litre.
On Friday, the price of Brent crude was about $94 per barrel, while the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was about $89 per barrel.
Ostensibly in response to this, the Dangote refinery has reduced the ex-depot price of petrol to N1,250 per litre from N1,275 per litre, while the price of diesel has been cut to N1,700 per litre from N1,800 per litre.
Since commencing operations, the 650,000 barrels per day refinery has increasingly supplied the domestic market with refined products aimed at eliminating the country’s dependence on imported fuels.
The company claimed it decided to slash the price to improve supply efficiency, deepen domestic refining, and provide cost relief to consumers and businesses that depend heavily on petroleum products for transportation, power generation and industrial operations.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), the umbrella body of customs agents in Nigeria, has petitioned President Bola Tinubu to compel the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to suspend the planned increase in shipping charges pending the review by the standing committee.
According to Mr Lucky Amiwero, the president of the body, in a letter to the President, the increase is a clear contravention of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in respect of local shipping charges between providers and users of shipping/Port and related service approved by the federal government.
The MoU under Articles 2(b)&4 clearly states that any other charges shall require agreement between the Parties concerned through the Nigerian Shippers Council, which must be complied with.
“In line with the provisions of Articles 2 and 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding, there is a need to follow the prescribed procedure as contained in the MOU. First is by submitting the information of the increase to the standing committee, including the detailed information, why the increase, and the percentage, to the standing committee for consideration and review of any increase
“We hereby request the suspension of any Local Shipping Charges increase, pending the review by the standing committee, which entails the detailed information of the increase, the Percentage (%), and if the Increase is necessary, to be sent to the standing Committee as approved by the Federal Government,” he said.
The official said the NSC were supposed to forward all detailed information on the increase in the local shipping charges to the standing committee, who are signatory to the MOU, and then to review in line with the approved federal government directive.
“We refer the government to the usual procedure of initiating an increase in local shipping charges. Notification of increase as proposed is always forwarded to the standing committee, reference 2003 NSC/TOD/FPS/011/VOL.V/54 OF 20TH JUNE, and NSC/TOD/FPS/011/VOL.35 OF 14TH April 2003 in line with article 2(b)&4 of the MOU.
“In line with Article 2(b)&4 of the memorandum of understanding, the request made by Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN), which was forwarded to the Shippers Council and the Shippers Council forwarded the same to the technical standing committee for review,” he added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The presidency has raised alarm over what it described as a growing pattern of digitally manipulated content aimed at exploiting religious sentiments for political purposes.
In a public service announcement issued by the Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy, it was disclosed that “deliberate attempts” to mislead Nigerians through deep fake videos and false narratives across online platforms had been identified.
According to the statement, a manipulated video surfaced on Tuesday, featuring altered audio and false attributions designed to portray President Bola Tinubu in a negative light.
It noted that a similar attempt followed shortly after, involving a fabricated video linked to a religious leader, allegedly intended to incite Muslim communities against the President.
The presidency said the recurring pattern suggests a coordinated effort to inflame religious tensions and sow division, particularly as political activities begin to intensify ahead of future elections.
It warned that “desperate actors” are likely to continue deploying misinformation tactics, including distorting religious messages, manipulating context, and spreading provocative content through social media and messaging platforms.
The presidency urged Nigerians to exercise caution before sharing sensitive or inflammatory content, encouraging citizens to question the motives behind such materials and to verify information through credible sources.
Describing the trend as “coordinated manipulation at scale,” it stressed that such actions are neither patriotic nor reflective of genuine political engagement.
The statement further warned that individuals and groups involved in the creation and dissemination of false information would be held accountable under relevant Nigerian laws, including those relating to cybercrime, incitement, and threats to public peace and national security.
It concluded by calling on citizens to remain vigilant and united in safeguarding the country’s social cohesion against digital disinformation.
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