FG establishes inter-ministerial committee to enforce supreme court judgement on local government autonomy
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON, has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the Supreme Court judgment delivered on 11th July 2024 granting financial autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement released by Segun Imohiosen, the Director, Information & Publication.
The members of the committee are as follows:
- Secretary to the Government of the Federation – Chairman
- Hon. Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy -Member
- Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice – Member
- Hon. Minister of Budget & Economic Planning
- Accountant General of the Federation
- Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
- Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Finance)
- Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission
- Representative of State Governors
- Representative of Local Governments
The committee’s primary goal is to ensure that local governments are granted full autonomy, allowing them to function effectively without interference from state governments.
The statement added that the move is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR efforts to give appropriate implementation to the provisions of the Constitution, which recognizes local governments as the third tier of government.
Recall that the Supreme Court of Nigeria recently ordered all state governors to refrain from interfering with funds allocated to the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, deeming such control unconstitutional.
This ruling follows a suit in which Justice Garba Mohammed Lawal reserved judgment on June 13, with the court promising to notify the parties involved once the judgment was ready.
The apex court’s decision reaffirms the autonomy of local governments in managing their finances, free from state government interference.
