The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising 10 individuals to enforce the Supreme Court judgement on Local Governments financial autonomy.
Recall that the Apex Court granted financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 Local Governments on July 11, 2024.
In a statement signed by the Director, Information & Public Relations of the SGF, Segun Imohiosen on Tuesday, Senator Akume was declared Chairman of the committee; with Hon. Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; and Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN) as members.
Other members are Hon. Minister of Budget & Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso and Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Finance), Mrs. Lydia Jafiya.
Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission, Mr. Mohammed Bello Shehu; Representative of State Governors and Representative of Local Governments complete the inaugurated committee.
The statement noted that 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, GCFR efforts to give appropriate implementation to the provisions of the Constitution, which recognizes local governments as the third tier of government,” it added.
