749 LGAs Fail to Submit Account Details, Delaying Local Government Autonomy

 749 LGAs Fail to Submit Account Details, Delaying Local Government Autonomy

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has identified major obstacles to implementing the July 11, 2024, Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy.

Key Challenges:
749 out of 774 local governments have yet to submit their bank account details, a key requirement for receiving direct allocations.
Determining which LGAs have democratically elected leadership remains a challenge.

Government Efforts to Resolve Issues:
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) Technical Sub-Committee discussed the issue during a recent meeting chaired by AGF Oluwatoyin Madein.
The OAGF and the Attorney General’s Office have begun discussions to address the setbacks.
Only Delta State’s 25 local governments have submitted their account details so far.

CBN’s Role & ALGON’s Concerns:
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has started profiling local government chairmen and bank signatories to ensure financial accountability.
However, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) claims they have not been contacted for signatory verification.

Supreme Court Ruling & Current Status:
The Supreme Court ruled on July 11, 2024, that state governors can no longer control local government funds.
The Accountant-General was directed to pay allocations directly to LGAs.
Eight months later, financial autonomy is yet to take effect, with the delay linked to unresolved administrative issues.