Federal Government’s Committee On Local Government Autonomy Finalises Report For Presidential Approval.
The Federal Government’s Committee on Local Government Autonomy has concluded its deliberations and signed a key technical document affirming local government independence, set to be submitted to President Bola Tinubu by the end of November. This development, announced by Hakeem Ambali, the National President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), marks a significant step toward strengthening local governance in Nigeria.
The push for local government autonomy began in May, when the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, filed a lawsuit challenging state governors’ authority over federal allocations designated for Local Government Areas (LGAs). The suit also aimed to prevent governors from dissolving elected councils and installing caretaker committees, a practice deemed unconstitutional.
In a landmark ruling on 11 July 2024, the Supreme Court upheld the financial independence of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs. Justice Garba Lawal, leading a seven-member panel, declared it “illegal and unconstitutional for governors to manage or withhold local government funds.” The court further directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer funds directly to LGA accounts, reinforcing the constitutional right to financial autonomy.
Following this ruling, the Federal Government established a 10-member inter-ministerial committee on 20 August to ensure effective implementation. The committee’s technical document, now completed, outlines steps to enforce financial independence for local governments, allowing them to operate effectively without interference from state governments.
The committee comprises high-ranking officials, including Finance Minister Wale Edun, Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi, Budget and Economic Planning Minister Abubakar Bagudu, and Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso, among others. Their collective objective is to facilitate local government autonomy nationwide, empowering LGAs to fulfil their mandates with greater independence.
Ambali expressed optimism, noting, “The committee has held its final meeting, and we have signed the technical document which will be transmitted to Mr President by November’s end. The President is eager to receive it, and we expect states will receive their allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) directly.”
This milestone marks a new chapter in the journey toward local government reform, with hopes that the forthcoming changes will enable LGAs to contribute more effectively to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
