By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and Professor of Constitutional Law, Ali Ahmad, has advocated a one-time emergency Executive Bill by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the National Assembly towards accelerating the conduct of local government elections across the country by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The former Speaker, who was fielding questions from journalists on Friday in Ilorin, the state capital, applauded the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government autonomy, adding that the bold step by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has reignited hope for a working Nigeria.

According to Ahmad, the bill would further consolidate the latest landmark judgment by the apex court in granting full autonomy to the third tier of government.

He said: “The historical judicial intervention is of inestimable value, comparable to the historic legislative adoption of the principle of ‘necessity’ that saved the soul of the country during ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure.

“I want to encourage the senior citizens across the country to actively participate in politics and run for local government positions in their respective communities to bring their wealth of ideas and experience to bear towards providing the much needed good governance at the grassroots.”

It would be recalled that the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered a significant, landmark judgment on Thursday, granting financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country.

The case was instituted by the Federal Government against the 36 state governors, while the apex court made a ruling regarding the status of the third tier of government, ruling that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to LGAs in their states.