The supreme court of Nigeria has ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay allocations directly to local government councils from the federation account. Delivering judgment in the suit on Thursday, a seven-member panel of justices held that state governments have continued to abuse their powers by retaining and using the funds meant for LGAs.
Also, the court ordered the federal government to withhold allocations of LGs governed by unelected officials appointed by the governor.
Recall that in May, the federal government filed a suit at the supreme court against governors of the 36 states.
In the suit marked SC/CV/343/2024, the federal government asked for full autonomy for the country’s 774 local governments.
In the suit filed by Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, the federal government also requested the supreme court to authorise the direct transfer of funds from the federation account to local governments — in accordance with the constitution.