Supreme Court Directs FG to Pay Allocations Directly to LGAs

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the Federal government should henceforth directly pay allocations to local government councils from the federation accounts.

The apex court says it is unconstitutional for the state governors to hold on to funds meant for local government administrations.

The presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Agim, said the refusal of the state governments on financial autonomy for local governments has gone on for over two decades.

He said local governments have since stopped receiving the money meant for them from the state governors who act in their stead.

Justice Agim held that it was time the 774 local government councils in the country managed their funds themselves.

The Judge therefore dismissed the preliminary objections of the state governors.

In the suit filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, the Federal Government sought an order preventing the governors from arbitrarily dissolving democratically elected councils.

Justice Agim said the AGF has the right to institute the suit and protect the constitution.

The apex court consequently directed that Local Government allocation from the Federation Account should be paid directly to them henceforth.