₦airaland Forum

Almost a year after, the judgment of the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas in the country is yet to be implemented.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) had said that there would be serious consequences for any state government that acted contrary to the judgment.

According to the AGF, the responsibility for implementing the judgment and ensuring direct allocation to local governments falls under the purview of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

It is not clear, however, if the AGF has written to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation directing the enforcement of the landmark judgment of the apex court.

The media aide to the AGF, Kamarudeen Ogundele, told the Nigerian Tribune that the matter of enforcement of the judgment has been overflogged.

He said enquiries should be directed to different sources like the Nigerian Union of Local government Employees (NULGE) and the Ministry of Finance, adding that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is the chairman of the judgment implementation committee.


What many saw as a move to delay the implementation of the judgment was the introduction of a new condition by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), requiring all the 774 local governments to provide at least two years of audited financial reports before they could receive their allocations directly.

The apex bank stated that the local governments must meet the requirement before opening accounts for direct remittance of their allocations.

The condition raised concerns among local government officials, who considered it as another bureaucratic hurdle to delay the implementation of financial autonomy.

However, the first attempt to delay the implementation of the judgment was the three-month moratorium granted to governors by the Federal Government in August 2024.


The Federal Government and state governors had agreed to the moratorium over concerns regarding its impact on salary payments, operational viability, and the conduct of local government elections, among other issues.

The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), through its secretary general, Muhammed Abubakar, also blamed the non-implementation of the judgment on the AGF’s directive for the CBN to open uniform accounts for all local governments.

The directive, ALGON said, undermines the spirit of the court’s decision.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the hearing on ALGON’s suit challenging the federal and state governments till May 29.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/353/2025, with the Registered Trustees of ALGON was listed as the plaintiff followed the Supreme Court judgment delivered in 2024, which affirmed financial autonomy for all the local governments..

ALGON initiated the suit in response to the alleged non-compliance of state governments with the Apex Court’s ruling.

The association is suing the attorney general of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 23 others.

Other defendants included the Minister of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), state commissioners for finance, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, and the Accountant-General of the Federation. Also joined in the suit were the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), several commercial banks, and an individual named Bello Lawal.

ALGON is seeking, among other reliefs, the inclusion of all 774 local government councils as participants in Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings where national revenue sharing is deliberated.

The Registered Trustees of ALGON have asked the federal high court to declare that, following the July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgment, the first to eighth defendants cannot disburse funds to the 774 local government councils through the ninth to 23rd defendants without prior approval or authorisation from the plaintiff.


ALGON alleged that the ninth to the 23 defendants, comprising several commercial banks, were positioning themselves as intermediaries or depositories for allocations meant for local governments, contrary to the apex court’s ruling.

In its preliminary objection, the CBN urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction, arguing that ALGON is not a constitutionally or statutorily recognised legal entity and was neither a party nor a beneficiary in the Supreme Court judgment.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), in its submission, contended that ALGON lacked the legal capacity to initiate the suit, thereby stripping the court of jurisdiction.

The state commissioners of finance also opposed ALGON’s claims, citing Section 6(1) of the Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account, etc.) Act, 1982, which defines FAAC’s statutory membership–excluding representatives of local government councils.

In response, ALGON filed a counter-affidavit asserting its legal status, stating that it was duly incorporated on May 10, 2002, with the mandate to promote and defend the autonomy and interests of local governments across Nigeria.

Amid the controversy, some governors allegedly resorted to intimidation and mounting pressure on their local government chairmen not to open the designated accounts to receive direct allocation.

A number of governors are said to be strongly opposed to the opening of CBN accounts, as it would deny them their long-standing access to local government funds.

As a result, they allegedly instructed some council chairmen not to open accounts with the apex bank.

It would be recalled that the AGF filed the suit at the Supreme Court on behalf of the Federal Government and the 774 local governments, praying the court to grant full autonomy and direct funding to local councils from their share of the federation account.

The court looked into the suit and thereafter granted the prayers, ordering that the allocations meant for local governments be paid directly to them and declared the practice of state governments retaining local government funds as unconstitutional.

The judgment, by a seven-man panel of the court, led by Justice Emmanuel Agim, also held that Nigeria has three arms of government—the federal, the state, and local government and that, no state government has the power to appoint a caretaker committee because a local government council is only recognisable with a democratically-elected government.

The court said the use of a caretaker committee amounted to a violation of the 1999 Constitution and further held that the state governments have been perpetuating a dangerous trend through their refusal to allow democratically elected local government councils in their states or through the appointment and removal of caretaker councils.

The apex court consequently ordered an “immediate compliance” with the judgment.

About a month after the judgment, the Federal Government inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the verdict, headed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume,


Members of the committee include the SGF himself as Chairman, with other members as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Attorney General of the Federation; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Accountant General of the Federation; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Finance); Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation & Fiscal Commission (RMAFC); representative of state governors and representative of local governments.


The committee met for months, and its undisclosed report was further handed over to a review panel, which also submitted a report.

It is, however, surprising that months after the apex court’s judgment for immediate implementation, the verdict has not been enforced.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/lg-financial-autonomy-one-year-after-s-court-judgment-yet-to-be-implemented/

Unbecoming

Governors will work against Tinubu 2027 if implemented now, baba knw that after the Election u will see film

JAMO4REAL1:
Governors will work against Tinubu 2027 if implemented now, baba knw that after the Election u will see film

How you folks think sometimes can be amusing
If he knew he can't implement it now as it would be injurious to his 2027 chances, why did he approach the SC on the matter then? Why not wait till after 2027?
If you in your little corner can see ahead that he intends to implement it after 2027 elections, how will governors who are in the thick of things not see that and just work against him to forestall the implementation?
This sounds like wild deceit fed by flippant imagination

..we warned sane Nigerians about the crooked ways of some people..who are guru strategists in using lies, deceit & propaganda to fool those who allows themselves to be fooled..

..when you hear of guru Strategist & em"lo"kan..you will rrmember the most dishonest man & dishonest region in the whole of Nigeria..

..those online ba"ptist who were deceiving their Generation saying Thief'nubu had Restructure Nigeria through the judgement of the SC..can now see that it was all gimmicks..designed to remind Nigerians how foolish the mandate standers were..

The policy will eventually be implemented.

Ikaeniyan0:
The policy will eventually be implemented.

Obviously, by another government that will take over from Tinubu.

Hehehe! All nah politics. A lawless grab and snatch government can't implement anything worthwhile.

Bobloco:
Obviously, by another government that will take over from Tinubu.

Tinubu took the governors to court and won. The LG will eventually get their money direct from the FG.

When I was telling press9jatv, say Baba no get that kind mind of implementation, he was doubting. He should try it in his first term, make Governors bare their fangs

Our Govs are something else, they will say after all as a Gov you do your own allow us do our own

Ikaeniyan0:
Tinubu took the governors to court and won. The LG will eventually get their money direct from the FG.

When was this judgment delivered by the Supreme Court?

If a president refuses to uphold the constitution should they be impeached? Does the oath of office mean anything. How long should the be given to do their job?

fergie001:
When I was telling press9jatv, say Baba no get that kind mind of implementation, he was doubting. He should try it in his first term, make Governors bare their fangs

Our Govs are something else, they will say after all as a Gov you do your own allow us do our own

fergie001, you still don't know what is going on. What of this case PDP took Osun State APC to court over CBN asking the reinstated APC lg Chairmen to tender their ledger to the financial institution last month. Now they have took CBN to court to stop in which the court of justice will throw their case to the dustbin.

press9jatv:
fergie001, you still don't know what is going on. What of this case PDP took Osun State APC to court over CBN asking the reinstated APC lg Chairmen to tender their ledger to the financial institution last month. Now they have took CBN to court to stop in which the court of justice will throw their case to the dustbin.

You are not current then.... The FHC in Osogbo has issued an exparte ruling.

fergie001:
You are not current then.... The FHC in Osogbo has issued an exparte ruling.

fergie001, you are not well informed here, that ruling will never stand cos' Court if Appeal has settled the matter since last February. Adeleke and his cronies are just wasting their time in the court of justice nii.

press9jatv:
fergie001, you are not well informed here, that ruling will never stand cos' Court if Appeal has settled the matter since last February. Adeleke and his cronies are just wasting their time in the court of justice nii.

You have been saying these things since February yet no show.

APC has relisted the Appeal Case as determined in January that went PDP's favour, they refused to go to the Supreme Court for obvious reasons.
The Appeal Court in Akure has reserved judgement whether to hear a case that the APC abandoned for close to two years which they subsequently struck out. Judgement has not been entered yet!

Number 2, the Yes/No LG imposters wrote to the CBN that they are the authentic Chairmen and the CBN should release the funds to them. See the CBN's reply: "We want to see the Appeal Court Judgement that reinstated you"

Since then, no show.

fergie001:
You have been saying these things since February yet no show.

APC has relisted the Appeal Case as determined in January that went PDP's favour, they refused to go to the Supreme Court for obvious reasons.
The Appeal Court in Akure has reserved judgement whether to hear a case that the APC abandoned for close to two years which they subsequently struck out. Judgement has not been entered yet!

Number 2, the Yes/No LG imposters wrote to the CBN that they are the authentic Chairmen and the CBN should release the funds to them. See the CBN's reply: "We want to see the Appeal Court Judgement that reinstated you"

Since then, no show.

you are just misinterpreting things here. What you say here is very wrong. Not true at all. Besides where's the whereabouts of Adeleke sit at home Chairmen? Have they resumed office niii? Been deceiving yourself and your clueless party that's going no where. Adeleke has seen the results of his defeat already. He's a clueless goner. Reinstated APC Chairmen controls the 30 lg secretariat in Osun State presently, and they will control the lg level till NEXT year. You haven't see anything yet.

press9jatv:
you are just misinterpreting things here. What you say here is very wrong. Not true at all. Besides where's the whereabouts of Adeleke sit at home Chairmen? Have they resumed office niii? Been deceiving yourself and your clueless party that's going no where. Adeleke has seen the results of his defeat already. He's a clueless goner. Reinstated APC Chairmen controls the 30 lg secretariat in Osun State presently, and they will control the lg level till NEXT year. You haven't see anything yet.

"Clueless Adeleke" you backed over 8 years. Clueless Adeleke you made enemies here for, abused the Yes/No LG Chairmen when their selection was conducted, attacked everyone who cared to listen now because you were schemed out and it's all turning the law upside down. Counter one thing with facts, no way. The AUTHENTIC CHAIRMEN are working from home and the allocations are going to the Governor as expected.

Those ones in the office should submit the CTC to CBN so that they will get their money, is it hard?
Counter the CBN letter? No
Counter the January judgement, No
Prove that the Chairmen were reinstated by the Court of Appeal? No

press9jatv:
fergi.e001, you still don't know what is going on. What of this case PDP took Osun State APC to court over CBN asking the reinstated APC lg Chairmen to tender their ledger to the financial institution last month. Now they have took CBN to court to stop in which the court of justice will throw their case to the dustbin.

The yes/no lackeys are losing both sides, let them submit the CTC to the CBN first.

The next hearing is June 4, as a product of this judgement as shown below .. counter this one.

fergie001:
"Clueless Adeleke" you backed over 8 years. Clueless Adeleke you made enemies here for, abused the Yes/No LG Chairmen when their selection was conducted, attacked everyone who cared to listen now because you were schemed out and it's all turning the law upside down. Counter one thing with facts, no way. The AUTHENTIC CHAIRMEN are working from home and the allocations are going to the Governor as expected.

Those ones in the office should submit the CTC to CBN so that they will get their money, is it hard?
Counter the CBN letter? No
Counter the January judgement, No
Prove that the Chairmen were reinstated by the Court of Appeal? No

The yes/no lackeys are losing both sides, let them submit the CTC to the CBN first.

The next hearing is June 4, as a product of this judgement as shown below .. counter this one.

fergie001, you are not from Osun State, you don't know what is going on. algon executives has directed all the recognised authentic Chairmen to submit their account details to cbn since last April. Maybe because I don't post it here. Like I said before, you aren't well informed, it's what you read on nairaland that you always judge. On Osun matter, you are not informed at all. Infact last week a judge withdrew herself from sitting on PDP nulge case in the state high court. You never read that one. I won't give you the details about it. You never do your due diligence before replying. You were saying that I was part of the people that brought this man to power, I said we want changed of hands, we have see the hands clearly, it's hands of corruption and looting our common wealth. Enough is enough of looting of our treasury in Adeleke government. As it stands today, education, health, economy are in moribund state. He never employ Osun State teachers but very fast in sacking Osun indigenes Oyetola employed in his government. Infact Oyetola even did extremely well in his 4 years than the clueless treasury looter of Adeleke government. Na family government dey for Osun now. Our eyes don clear. We prefer Oyetola to come back and restructure the economy of Osun State as he managed it during COVID -19 pandemic era then. Oyetola did well in his government. As it stands today, Adeleke is a goner. Ask Osun State electorates, they will school you about bad government of Adeleke. Food inflation is at over 30% in Adeleke government. So tell me who's deeiving who? Adeleke is a goner and we will votes him out of power cos' it's our choice. As it stands today the kangaroo Sit at home Chairmen are nothing to write about, most of them are just idle and also not useful to the community they came from. Adeleke destroyed their ambition already. Is it not yesterday that the 3 PDP senators endorsed Tinubu niiii. adeleke is a goner. You will be the one to quote when the results is out. Hopefully APC will give Oyetola the governorship ticket and we will see who wins.

press9jatv:
fergi.e001, you are not from Osun State, you don't know what is going on. algon executives has directed all the recognised authentic Chairmen to submit their account details to cbn since last April. Maybe because I don't post it here. Like I said before, you aren't well informed, it's what you read on nairaland that you always judge. On Osun matter, you are not informed at all. Infact last week a judge withdrew herself from sitting on PDP nulge case in the state high court. You never read that one. I won't give you the details about it. You never do your due diligence before replying. You were saying that I was part of the people that brought this man to power, I said we want changed of hands, we have see the hands clearly, it's hands of corruption and looting our common wealth. Enough is enough of looting of our treasury in Adeleke government. As it stands today, education, health, economy are in moribund state. He never employ Osun State teachers but very fast in sacking Osun indigenes Oyetola employed in his government. Infact Oyetola even did extremely well in his 4 years than the clueless treasury looter of Adeleke government. Na family government dey for Osun now. Our eyes don clear. We prefer Oyetola to come back and restructure the economy of Osun State as he managed it during COVID -19 pandemic era then. Oyetola did well in his government. As it stands today, Adeleke is a goner. Ask Osun State electorates, they will school you about bad government of Adeleke. Food inflation is at over 30% in Adeleke government. So tell me who's deeiving who? Adeleke is a goner and we will votes him out of power cos' it's our choice. As it stands today the kangaroo Sit at home Chairmen are nothing to write about, most of them are just idle and also not useful to the community they came from. Adeleke destroyed their ambition already. Is it not yesterday that the 3 PDP senators endorsed Tinubu niiii. adeleke is a goner. You will be the one to quote when the results is out. Hopefully APC will give Oyetola the governorship ticket and we will see who wins.

Ok

In Summary, who gets the LG funds in Osun State?

fergie001:
Ok

In Summary, who gets the LG funds in Osun State?

reinstated APC Chairmen