FG Inaugurates Committee to Enforce Supreme Court Ruling on LG Autonomy

 

The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member inter-ministerial committee to enforce the recent Supreme Court ruling that granted financial autonomy to local governments across the country.

This follows the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on July 11, declaring it unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds meant for local government administrations.

The ruling was seen as a critical step towards ensuring the financial independence of local governments, which are recognised as the third tier of government by the Nigerian Constitution.

Five weeks after the ruling, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has set up a high-level committee to implement the verdict. The committee, which Akume will chair, was inaugurated on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the SGF, Segun Imohiosen.

The committee comprises key government officials, including 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, and the Accountant General of the Federation.

Other members include 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, as well as representatives of state governors and local governments.

According to the statement, “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.”

This development aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s broader efforts to uphold the constitutional provisions recognising local governments as an essential tier of governance in Nigeria.

The move is expected to enhance the capacity of local governments to deliver services more effectively to their communities, free from the financial constraints previously imposed by state governments.

The establishment of this committee marks a significant step towards the practical implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling, signaling the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening local governance and promoting transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.