The Supreme Court has ruled that the federal government must directly disburse funds allocated for local governments.
The court’s judgment, read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that state governors cannot withhold funds meant for local governments, adding that local governments should manage their funds autonomously. This decision grants full autonomy to local governments, as sought by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi.
The refusal to grant financial autonomy to local governments has persisted for decades, but the court dismissed the state governments’ preliminary objections, emphasizing the need for change.
The implications of this ruling are significant, and its implementation may lead to a substantial shift in Nigeria’s governance structure.
