The Federal Government will implement the direct transfer of funds into the accounts of local government councils nationwide by the end of October.
Ambali Olatunji, President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), disclosed this information during an interview, shedding light on a significant development in the country’s financial autonomy for local governments.
This move aligns with the Supreme Court’s July ruling, which declared that state governors lack the authority to control funds designated for local councils. The court ruled that only democratically elected local government administrations are constitutionally recognized, rendering state-appointed caretaker committees invalid.
Some governors had sought time to organize council elections and were granted a three-month period for this purpose. As the implementation deadline approaches, local governments are expected to gain better access to funds, enhancing their capacity to deliver essential services and drive local development.
“Come October 11, the implementation of financial autonomy for local government will take full effect. We hope that by the end of October, local government allocations will directly reach council accounts across the country,” Olatunji said.
NULGE has submitted a position paper on how local government councils should be administered to the technical committee set up by the Federal Government for the implementation of financial autonomy. Olatunji urged the federal and state governments to put in place measures to ensure that the funds are not diverted by the council administrators.
