The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-man Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government financial autonomy in Nigeria. The committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON, following the Supreme Court’s decision on July 11, 2024, which granted financial independence to local governments.
The committee comprises key government officials and representatives, including:
1. Secretary to the Government of the Federation – Chairman
2. Hon. Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy – Member
3. Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice – Member
4. Hon. Minister of Budget & Economic Planning – Member
5. Accountant General of the Federation – Member
6. Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria – Member
7. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance – Member
8. Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission – Member
9. Representative of State Governors – Member
10. Representative of Local Governments – Member
The primary objective of the committee is to ensure that local governments in Nigeria are granted full financial autonomy, enabling them to operate independently without interference from state governments. This move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to upholding the provisions of the Constitution, which acknowledges local governments as the third tier of government.
The inauguration of the committee marks a significant step toward strengthening local governance in Nigeria, ensuring that local governments can effectively manage their resources and deliver services to their communities.
