Following a civic engagement program held at the National Secretariat of the Sanity Multi-Efforts Forum – SMEF, in Lokoja on Wednesday, the Convener of the Forum, Prince Dan Olaitan Dada, expressed deep concern over the continued hardship at the grassroots despite the landmark Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas.
Addressing the media, Prince Dada stated that Nigerians must now redirect their demand for accountability from Abuja to the offices constitutionally responsible for grassroots governance: the Local Government Chairmen, State Governors, and State Houses of Assembly.
“The Supreme Court has spoken. The position of the law is settled and binding. Statutory allocations meant for Local Governments must go directly to them. This is a constitutional mandate, not a political favor from the Presidency,” Prince Dada declared. “Yet our primary healthcare centers remain ill-equipped, our public schools lack basic infrastructure, our rural roads are impassable, and insecurity persists at the local level. The question before every Nigerian is simple: where are these funds?”
SMEF noted that financial records available to the Forum show that many Local Government Areas now receive substantial monthly allocations from the Federation Account. The Forum identified the fundamental problem as Autonomy without Accountability, and Interference without Consequence.
Under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as interpreted by the Supreme Court, the management of Local Government finances is vested exclusively in Local Government Chairmen and their Councils. State Governors are under constitutional obligation to respect that autonomy and refrain from starving, manipulating, or diverting Local Government funds. State Houses of Assembly are under constitutional obligation to provide diligent oversight.
Prince Dada issued a firm warning to State Houses of Assembly across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory. “It is unacceptable for State Executives to compromise the legislature for the purpose of diverting local government funds. Houses of Assembly must rise to their constitutional responsibility. Enough of legislative rubber-stamping. Enough is Enough,” he stated.
On recent enforcement actions by anti-corruption agencies, including freezing of state government accounts over alleged financial infractions, the Convener cautioned against misrepresentation of institutional roles. “There is a pattern of blaming the Presidency for actions of independent agencies. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission are statutory bodies established by law to investigate financial crimes. The duty of the President is to uphold non-interference and allow the rule of law to operate. Unlike past practices where the Constitution was subverted to achieve political objectives, this administration is bound to respect judicial and institutional independence. All tiers of government must do the same.”
SMEF condemned in strong terms any state organ, agency, or individual still obstructing Local Government operations through illegal joint accounts, unauthorized deductions, or political directives. “Any authority still holding Local Governments by the neck must desist immediately. The law must be allowed to work. Local Governments across Nigeria must be allowed to receive and utilize their resources for the benefit of the people.”
Reminding citizens of their legal standing, the Convener stated that the 1999 Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, and the Public Procurement Act empower every Nigerian to demand transparency. SMEF therefore urged citizens to take the following lawful steps:
1. Demand Information: Invoke the Freedom of Information Act to request monthly allocation receipts and expenditure reports from your Local Government.
2. Organize Town Halls: Convene community, women, youth, and market stakeholders to demand quarterly account from your Chairman.
3. Document Evidence: Record failed projects, illegal levies, and extortion with dates, locations, and identities of those involved.
4. Lawful Escalation: Submit verified cases to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and State House of Assembly Committees. “Do not take the law into your hands. But silence in the face of illegality is complicity,” Prince Dada warned.
Pursuant to Article 3 of the SMEF Constitution on Governance, Revenue, Security and Citizen Engagement, the Forum announced the immediate commencement of its nationwide *’HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE’* campaign. SMEF is prepared to provide free civic education, documentation templates, and lawful referral channels, and to lead town hall mobilizations across Governance, Revenue, Security, Education, Health, and the Local Economy.
“We share the pain of our people. SMEF was established to defend public interest, to document facts, and to insist on sanity in governance,” Prince Dada said.
For institutional collaboration, public inquiries, or to report verified local financial irregularities, contact the SMEF Secretariat:
Phone: 08111963351, 08133357222, 08131331188, 08022299952
Email: sanitymultieffortsforum@gmail.com
National Secretariat: No. 64 IBB Way, Opp. Moremi House, Lokoja, Kogi State
In conclusion, SMEF affirmed that sanity in governance begins at the grassroots. “Public funds belong to the public. Local Governments belong to the people. The duty of accountability belongs to all of us. Let no authority block it. Let no Chairman conceal it. Let no Governor divert it. Sanity Must Be It. Enough is Enough. Nationwide.”
