Ahead of the submission of a key report on the enforcement of Local Government autonomy, several state governors have intensified efforts to delay the implementation of a recent Supreme Court ruling.
The report, which is being prepared by a 10-member inter-ministerial committee, is expected to be presented by October 13.
The committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, was set up in August to oversee the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s judgment, which affirmed the financial independence of Nigeria’s 774 local governments.
In 2019, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) introduced regulations that blocked the use of State and Local Government Joint Accounts for transactions, mandating that local government funds be transferred directly to their accounts.
The NFIU also restricted cash withdrawals from local government accounts to a maximum of N500,000 per day. However, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum opposed the regulation, leading to its suspension.
In May 2024, the Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, filed a lawsuit challenging the authority of state governors to control federal allocations intended for local governments.
The lawsuit sought to stop governors from dissolving democratically elected local councils and replacing them with caretaker committees, arguing that this violated the constitutional mandate for elected local governments.
The Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on July 11, 2024, declared that governors could no longer manage or withhold funds meant for local governments. It instructed the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure local government allocations are paid directly to their accounts, describing the practice of withholding funds as unconstitutional.
On October 1, during a speech marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to upholding the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy. “We are resolute in our determination to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the financial autonomy of local governments,” the President stated.
Despite this, sources within the Presidency revealed that governors are actively lobbying top officials to delay the implementation of the ruling.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that pressure was being applied, although the federal government remains committed to enforcing the judgment. “Governors are lobbying to stall the implementation as the panel prepares to submit its report next week. But the process is ongoing, and implementation could start soon,” the source said.
The National President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Hakeem Ambali, also confirmed that the inter-ministerial committee is expected to submit its report by October 11.
Ambali expressed confidence in the process, saying, “The President’s speech has reassured us that this is a done deal. NULGE has already submitted its report to the committee.”
Civil society groups have condemned the governors’ attempts to block the enforcement of local government autonomy. The Chairman of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, criticized the governors for their “stranglehold on local governments” and called their actions “self-serving.” He urged the President to ensure that the ruling is enforced without delay.
The Executive Director of the United Global Resolve for Peace (UGRP), Olaseni Shalom, called for legislative action to solidify the autonomy, suggesting that the President sponsor a bill in the National Assembly to enforce the Supreme Court ruling.
