State governors have reportedly started initiating efforts to postpone the implementation of a Supreme Court judgment that grants financial autonomy to local governments.
The ruling, which aims to provide local governments with greater control over their finances, has been met with resistance from the governors.
The governors are reportedly mounting pressure on top federal officials to soften the implementation.
Reports had earlier revealed that the Supreme Court, on July 11, 2024, delivered a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
The court ruled that it was illegal and unconstitutional for governors to manage and withhold local government funds.
The apex court directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay local government allocations directly to their accounts.
Following the judgment, the Federal Government instituted a 10-member inter-ministerial committee to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The committee, headed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, includes prominent members such as Minister of Finance Wale Edun, Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Olayemi Cardoso.
Despite the Federal Government’s efforts to implement the judgment, state governors are resisting the move. Sources close to the Presidency reveal that governors are lobbying top officials to stall the implementation.
Chairman of Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State, Dr. Ahmed Wali, said, “We are hoping to receive the allocation in October as plans are in the pipeline to open accounts for local governments with CBN.
A senior local government official revealed that following the Supreme Court’s judgment, all local governments in the state opened new commercial bank accounts to receive allocations. However, the official expressed uncertainty about receiving direct funding.
“We’ve received September salaries, but I doubt we’ve gotten direct allocation from the Federal Government yet,” the official said.
