NewStats: 3,263,102 , 8,179,094 topics. Date: Wednesday, 04 June 2025 at 05:05 PM 5r1g6k

Barring any last-minute change of plan, councils will begin to get direct allocation from the Federation next month.

It will begin with the disbursement of this month’s allocation to the tiers of government, a source told our correspondent at the weekend.

The direct receipt from the Federation Allocation Committee (FAAC) will end the delay in the implementation of the July 11 judgment of the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to councils.

Since the judgment was delivered, the Federal Government has been making an effort to ensure minimal disruption to state/local government operations.

The umbilical cord of the state/local government t into which council allocations are paid has been difficult to break because of subtle resistance by governors, many of who are displeased with the Supreme Court judgment.

A member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee established to enforce the Supreme Court judgment told our correspondent that approval has been given for the direct FAAC allocations to LGAs from next month after all the issues were laid to rest.

The source explained that though some councils have been collecting their allocation directly, the process will be fully operational by next month.

The committee member declined a request to name the councils that have been receiving direct allocations.

The source said: “A few LGAs have already started receiving their direct allocations but all of the 774 LGAs will fully start receiving their allocations from January 2025.

“Our committee will reconvene in January to review its progress and finalise measures before the ant-General of the Federation issues authorisation for the complete rollout.

“This is a critical juncture in Nigeria’s governance structure.

“Our January 2025 meeting will also address the actions of governors attempting to undermine the autonomy of democratically elected LGA chairmen, deputies, and councillors, ensuring they are not coerced into serving state interests.”

This move is believed to be a critical step in empowering councils to carry out their constitutional responsibilities effectively without undue interference by governors.

The source expressed disappointment with the suspension for two months of democratically elected local government chairmen and deputies by the Edo State House of Assembly, following a petition by Governor Monday Okpebholo accusing them of insubordination for not making available their financial statements as directed.

“It is highly undemocratic for governors to dissolve elected LGAs.

“Such actions undermine the autonomy granted to local governments and create an environment where LGAs become pawns in the hands of state executives,” the source said.

The committee, chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume has as Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Abubakar Bagudu, ant General of the Federation Oluwatoyin Madein, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission Chairman Muhammed Shehu and representatives of state governors as well as local governments.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu threw his weight behind the financial independence of councils.

The inter-ministerial committee endorsed the implementation of constitutional provisions that recognise councils as the third tier of government.

Fagbemi had threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against defiant governors who failed to comply with the July 11 Supreme Court judgment.

Justifying councils’ financial autonomy, Fagbemi said: “Local government autonomy is meant to empower the grassroots, not enrich individuals.

“Any chairman found guilty of diverting funds will face severe legal consequences.”

Some states have laws seemingly aimed at bying the Supreme Court judgment.

The Anambra State House of Assembly, for instance, ed a Local Government istration Bill mandating LGAs to remit a portion of their allocations into a state-controlled t .

Governor Chukwuma Soludo defended the legislation as necessary for transparency and collaboration, but critics, including civil society groups, accused his istration of undermining the spirit and letters of the Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for councils.

On the other hand, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly aligned with the Supreme Court ruling by abolishing t s and restructuring its local government system to ensure compliance.

Governor Abdullahi Sule signed the bill, thereby signalling for grassroots financial independence.

As part of the Supreme Court judgment which mandates councils to be run by democratically elected officials before being qualified to access direct allocation from the Federation , all the states have conducted elections which ushered in elected chairmen and councillors.

The Senate also weighed in, urging full compliance with the Supreme Court judgment.

It advocated constitutional amendments to remove ambiguities in Section 162(6) of the 1999 Constitution, which created state/local government t s.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasised the need for a clear framework to enforce local government autonomy effectively.

Immediate past National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Aminu Muazu Maifata yesterday advised council chairmen on how to use direct allocations to them.

‘’I honestly expect them to work towards improving the lives of the people at the grassroots.

“I expect them to channel those resources towards implementing laudable programmes and projects as well as tackling challenges at the grassroots,” Maifata said.

He explained that ALGON already has a template on how council chairmen should judiciously use their FAAC allocations.

Maifata, a one-time chairman of Lafia LGA of Nasarawa State, also ened chairmen to tackle insecurity, water shortage, and infrastructure gaps.

He explained that these are the basic needs of the rural population.

The former ALGON boss said: “I don’t expect any chairman to have any difficulty in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.

“I can authoritatively give you this assurance, and I honestly expect them to work towards improving the lives of the people at the grassroots.

“We already set the template when the Supreme Court judgment was delivered and each chairman knows what to do if the resources are available, so I expect them to follow the template we set and deliver good governance to our people at the grassroots.”

“I also expect them to undertake capacity building of the legislative arm and the executive of various local governments across the country.

“I expect them to bring skillful resource persons that will speak on issues that will strengthen the local government istration.

“These are some of the key areas I expect them to start tackling immediately.”

Sources: https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/direct-payment-of-allocaton-to-councils-begins-next-month/amp/

https://www.thecable.ng/newspaper-headlines-direct-payment-of-allocation-to-lgas-begins-next-month/

Story story story yeah

Noted.

As good as this LG autonomy is, Obidients will rather its opposition bcs it is Tinubu. Regionalism and true federalism in motion for their easy realisation of Biafra but bcs it is Tinubu, they will rather die slaves in Nigeria than have their Biafra while Jagaban is the president. Hypocrisy

Now it's time to hold your Local government chairman responsible for you village underdevelopment

...story for the next generation

Very good... We must restructure Nigeria by force.... D only issue now is... Hope local government chairman no go chop money?

Very good

No one cares to ask where FG have been getting money from to increase both state and LG monthly payment

Asiwaju is the Nigeria president, so don't stress about how

Clowns

In another post, some persons questioned the ission by an Obidient that Tinubu is doing well and I wondered why we operate on extremes.
If Obi does well, commend him.
If Tinubu does well, commend him and if he fails, criticize him.
I have always been critical of APC as Buhari left us a sour taste. I even believe APC rigged the last elections, but you cannot but commend Tinubu’s reforms. I swear you can’t.

From A.G’s pronouncement on Local Government to tax reforms, power reforms, Ports coming alive (Onne Port) etc. You see a clear departure from Buhari’s style. He is more involved, show better understanding of economic dynamics atleast from his last media chat. He also has shown he is more of a liberal, he no carry religion for head like Buhari.

While I have reservations on his approach to removing subsidy, I’ll be lying if I say the inflation hasn’t slowed down with the economy showing signs of recovering.

Buhari been mess this country and I hated APC for it. APC faithfuls should be humble enough to it we wasted 8 years. They also should be able to apologize for campaigning against Jonathan’s plan to remove subsidy.

Good step

Great100000:

Sources: https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/direct-payment-of-allocaton-to-councils-begins-next-month/amp/

https://www.thecable.ng/newspaper-headlines-direct-payment-of-allocation-to-lgas-begins-next-month/

I this and it's a welcome development.

But it's now you will see how corrupt your local government chairmen and councilors are.

PsaIm:
Now it's time to hold your Local government chairman responsible for you village underdevelopment

Tinubu dey truly reform Nigeria

God bless him

K

It's time for local governments chairmen to start moving in convoys with hundreds of aid made up of family and close friends.

40% of the funds will be budgeted for cost of governance. The remaining 50% will be for salary payments toward an overblown payroll full with cronies and family with majority not even residing or spending in the LGA.

The 10% will be for ineffective, mushrooms projects like purchasing of keke, buying wheelbarrows, renovating health care center without equipments and essential drugs. For those who choose to buy expensive equipments and amenities, they'll be lack of trained health care staff which in the long run those things become a waste.

Oh the schools! Yeah they'll be renovation of some class room blocks here and there, overblown staffers which are not qualified for they're own chairman goodwill, hell even some buying of books, uniform or payment of waec here and there at 3x the original cost...


All in all, it'll just lead to a newer sharing of money in the grassroots among few cronies, it'll even be better if the money is circulated there in the grassroots but no those chairman will rather invest in estates in state capitals, build businesses in Lagos, build private schools in state capital rather than the LGA and end up circulating the wealth in another location.

No innovative thinking, no effective health/education investment and staff welfare, agricultural investment would be for personal gain. And when they decide to do empowerment they'll rather share money and food, no innovative long term plans.... This my people is how an average Nigerian leader think.

Great100000:

Sources: https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/direct-payment-of-allocaton-to-councils-begins-next-month/amp/

https://www.thecable.ng/newspaper-headlines-direct-payment-of-allocation-to-lgas-begins-next-month/

It’s a clear example of restructuring efforts aimed at empowering local governments by granting them direct access to their allocations from the Federation . It’s a big step toward decentralization, but it also exposes how deeply entrenched centralized control still is in Nigeria’s political system.

Good and very commendable.
But you should know that before this will have full effect on people it will take at least 3 years to this time, this set of governors will be rounding up or seeking re-election therefore whatever oath or conditions they put the LG chairmen would have expired.

Good news.

However I sincerely doubt if there will be any impact on our societies, especially with news if governors tying the hands of local government chairmen, to enable them continue their stranglehold on the resources.

Let's see how it goes.

Very good 👍

Governors still have LGA chairmen at their beck and call through rigging instituted by them by instrumentality of weak electoral system.LGA chairmen are governors' boys and they will make returns to their bosses.

Karleb:
I this and it's a welcome development.

But it's now you will see how corrupt your local government chairmen and councilors are.

In Edo, the governor's influence over local councils—suspending democratically elected officials for "insubordination"—highlights the struggle for autonomy. Similarly, Anambra’s legislation requiring LGAs to remit part of their funds into a state-controlled undermines the Supreme Court ruling. These actions suggest that some governors see restructuring as a threat to their authority rather than an opportunity for better governance.

Still many Governors are eyeing that allocation.

Akanbi Thank you.
Politics 101 , local government.
If you don't like it ; feel free to cry or better still kee yaself .
WE MOVE, NIGERIA MOVE.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA

Great100000:

Sources: https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/direct-payment-of-allocaton-to-councils-begins-next-month/amp/

https://www.thecable.ng/newspaper-headlines-direct-payment-of-allocation-to-lgas-begins-next-month/

DIRECT LOOT!

PsaIm:
Now it's time to hold your Local government chairman responsible for you village underdevelopment

Just as we are holding Tinubu able for hunger, strife, starvation, high inflation, the high cost of basic food items, and the high cost of fuel leading to exorbitant transport costs, his 'Bolekaja' economic policy prescriptions have caused this country and it's citizens.

Everybody, from top to bottom, must be held able and responsible

PsaIm:
Now it's time to hold your Local government chairman responsible for you village underdevelopment

can you hold them responsible, let them start collecting the allocation that's when you will know that average Nigerian are corrupt...

Correct. Imagine Kaduna where they corner all the funds at state level and use it for one religion yet there are constituencies where the other religion dominates councils. This puts the money within the councils and byes the looting structure presen at state level.

It's a great development,most inner roads and communities are underdeveloped because governor's eyes or effort didn't reach there or funding are embezzled from hand to hand till the funds remain zero and could not develop local places .

The FG should make sure there's policy on ground that will prevent governor from pressurring the LG chairmen especially by creating the stand alone body that conducts the election .


Another important reform I want to make sure it succeeds is the tax reform bill.