In a significant move to uphold local government autonomy, the Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member committee tasked with enforcing the recent Supreme Court ruling that grants financial independence to local governments across Nigeria.
The Supreme Court’s decision, delivered on July 11, declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds meant for local government administrations. This ruling aims to ensure that local governments can operate independently and fulfil their roles effectively without undue interference from state governments.
Five weeks after the ruling, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has established an inter-ministerial committee to implement the court’s verdict. According to a statement released on Tuesday by Segun Imohiosen, the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the SGF, Akume will chair the newly formed committee.
The committee’s members include key figures such as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Accountant General of the Federation, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and representatives of state governors and local governments.
“The committee’s primary goal is to ensure that local governments are granted full autonomy, allowing them to function effectively without interference from state governments,” Imohiosen stated.
