The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-man inter-ministerial committee to enforce the Supreme Court judgement on Local Government autonomy.
The Supreme Court, on 11th July, granted autonomy to Local Governments across the country.
The seven-man panel, in a judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that the 774 Local Government Councils in the country should manage their funds.
The apex court also held that governmental power is divided into three arms: the federal, the state, and the local government.
In a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, it was stated that the FG has set up a committee for the implementation of the judgement.
He said, “The Secretary to the Government of the Federation has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the Supreme Court judgement delivered on 11th July 2024, granting financial autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria.”
Imohiosen said the SGF, George Akume, would lead the committee.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation are members of the committee.
Others include the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, a representative of State Governors, and a representative of Local Governments.
Imohiosen added that the objective of the committee is to ensure that Local Governments in the country enjoy their autonomy.
He said, “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.
“This move is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to ensure the appropriate implementation of the provisions of the Constitution, which recognises Local Governments as the third tier of government.”