Group Calls On  Sanwo-Olu To Reverse Order Barring LG Chairmen From Appointing Office Holders

By Akinwale Kasali

A Group, the  Human Rights Monitoring Agenda, HURMA, has called on Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to rescind his recently pronounced order stopping the newly sworn-in Local Government Chairmen in the State from appointing Office Holders.

The Group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Buna Isiak Olaitan and Lekan Alabi, Head Legal, made the call in a letter to the Governor, saying that such order contradicted the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which granted the Local Governments in the country ‘Full Administrative Autonomy’.

HURMA’s letter to the Governor Captioned: “Re: Appointment of Political Office Holders: ‘A Call to Reverse Directive of Restrictions on Local Govt and LCDAs From Appointing Political Office Holders and Grant Full Administrative Autonomy’.

The letter reads in part: “We write to urgently request the reversal of the  recent directive by your authority  directing all newly sworn-in Chairmen of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to suspend the appointment of political office holders, including Supervisors, Special Advisers, and Senior Special Assistants.

“This was contained in an official circular dated July 31, 2025, with reference number MLG/LGA/C.27/S./VOL.XIV/496, wherein the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, conveyed the directive in line with your  directive during the recent swearing-in ceremony.

“According to the widely published circular, only the appointment of Chief of Staff is permitted and Chairmen who might  have made the  political appointments beyond the Chief of Staff were instructed to reverse their action  till further directives

“Our office considered  the  above directive recently given to all Local Government in the state as contradictory to the earlier Lagos government statement that “Local Government in the State have long operated with full financial and administrative independence, even before the Supreme Court’s July 2024 decision reinforcing Local Government autonomy nationwide.

“This, therefore, calls for an  immediate reversal for the general good of all.

“Nigeria practises a constitutional democracy whereby governments derive their powers from the constitution. May we draw your attention to the fact that the Chairmen were duly elected by the people.

“Their existence is not at the pleasure of your office. In as much as the Federal Government doesn’t intervene in the exercise of power of your office despite the huge monthly allocation  being received from the center, we find it awkward and clumsy that your authority  is directing a democratically elected government on how the government is to be run.

“Lagos is supposed to be a model state and hallmark of democratic governance, not only in Nigeria but also in Africa.

“The Local Government should be allowed full independence in administering the local areas without any hindrance.

“As a public spirited organization, we may necessarily institute an action in a court of competent jurisdiction  to challenge   the undemocratic directive to the local governments.

“Thanks for your anticipated prompt response.”

It would be recalled the Lagos State Governor ordered that  the elected Chairmen can only appoint their Chief of Staff, CoS, and should stop any further political appointments whatsoever.