FG sets up committee to enforce LG autonomy

An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been inaugurated with the responsibility of enforcing the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria.

The committee was inaugurated by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, on Tuesday.

The committee’s primary goal is to ensure that local governments gain full autonomy, allowing them to function without state government interference.

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This move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to implement constitutional provisions recognizing local governments as the third tier of government.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee members include: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Akume, who is the committee’s Chairman; Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Member; Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Member; Minister of Budget & Economic Planning; Accountant General of the Federation; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Finance); Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission; representative of state governors; and representative of local governments.

The Supreme Court ruled that Nigeria’s 774 local governments be granted full financial autonomy, with the ruling delivered by a seven-man panel led by Justice Garba Lawal on July 11, 2024.

The suit was filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), seeking direct fund allocation and autonomy for local governments across the country.