Supreme Court Decision On Local Government Allocations Awaits FG Implementation

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has expressed concerns over the Federal Government’s delay in implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling on direct payments to local government councils. ALGON spokesperson Obiora Orji lamented that...READ MORE…

despite promises, the mandated direct allocations have not commenced.

The Supreme Court had earlier ordered that monthly allocations be paid directly into the accounts of Nigeria’s 774 local government councils. However, four months after the ruling, funds are still being routed through joint state-local government accounts by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Shortly after the ruling, the Federal Government announced a three-month period to address operational challenges before implementation. That timeframe ended in October, but no action has been taken.

Speaking to ireporteronline, Orji stated that everyone is anxiously waiting for the implementation, emphasizing the transparency that direct payments would bring.

Akeem Ambali, National President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), attributed the delay to a lack of approval from President Bola Tinubu. He highlighted that NULGE had submitted a position paper to an inter-ministerial committee, chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. The committee has since concluded its work and submitted recommendations to the President.

“We are eagerly awaiting the implementation of the committee’s recommendations,” Ambali said, adding that financial autonomy for local governments remains critical for grassroots development.