LG Autonomy: FG Begins Direct Allocation to Councils
Arrangements have been concluded by federal government to begin direct begin to get direct allocation of local government funds from the Federation Account this month, THE BEAGLE NEWS can authoritatively report.
Checks by THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed that the Office of Account General of The Federation (OAGF) will test run the allocation experiment with December allocation directly to the third tiers of government.
A reliable source told our correspondent that a good number of council chairmen accrosvthe federation have raised the alarm over the so ble standard of governors l who are hell bent in circumventing the local government autonomy.
Some of them were said to have discreetly complained to the OAGF of how Governors are subjecting council chairmen in their various dates into signing an MoU to handover their allocation to them.
It was learnt that in some states, the Governors are threatening fire and brimstone on any chairmen, who dared question or raise his voice against the move.
Some Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) top Executives at national level are said to be battle ready to dare the Governors once the OAGF started the direct disbursement to 774 councils, saying any chairman who willingly transfer his allocation back to his Governor will be held accountable.
An ALGON officer, who doesn't want his name in print said: "This is the auspicious time for federal government to restore sanity at the local government system through direct payments of council funds from FAAC. Besides, they should also follow it up by monitoring how the council chairmen spends the money before giving him or her the next allocation.
"This idea of Governors sitting on local government allocation has to stop because federal does not control state allocation. We call on Nigerians and NGOs to please sit up and monitor what happens at the grassroots to stop Governors from becoming Emperors.
"On our own part, we will ensure that right thing is done and try to resit further manipulations by Governors using local government commissoners' offices across the country to do illegal deductions. We shall publish all deductions state carry out form council allocations."
However, the direct receipt from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) will mark the expected implementation of the July 11 judgment of the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to councils.
A member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee established to enforce the Supreme Court judgment told our correspondent that approval has been given for the direct FAAC allocations to LGAs from next month after all the issues were laid to rest.
The source said: “A few LGAs have already started receiving their direct allocations but all of the 774 LGAs will fully start receiving their allocations from January 2025.
“Our committee will reconvene in January to review its progress and finalise measures before the Accountant-General of the Federation issues authorisation for the complete rollout.
“This is a critical juncture in Nigeria’s governance structure.
“Our January 2025 meeting will also address the actions of governors attempting to undermine the autonomy of democratically elected LGA chairmen, deputies, and councillors, ensuring they are not coerced into serving state interests.”
