The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member committee to enforce the recent Supreme Court ruling that granted financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria.
Recall that the apex court had on the 11th of July declared that it was unconstitutional for state governors to hold on to funds meant for LG administrations.
Disclosing the setting up of a Ministerial Committee to implement financial autonomy for local councils, the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, on Tuesday said Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, would chair the committee.
Other members joining Akume are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice – Member; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Accountant General of the Federation; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria CBN; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance; Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission; Representative of State Governors; and, 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 move is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to give appropriate implementation to the provisions of the Constitution, which recognizes local governments as the third tier of government.