Barring any last-minute resistance from state governors, direct payment of statutory allocations to Local Government Areas (LGAs) is set to commence by November 2024. This development follows a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court in July, which affirmed the financial autonomy of all 774 local government councils in Nigeria.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been tasked with tracking the funds to ensure transparency and accountability. This move is aimed at preventing the misuse of funds by state governors, who have historically controlled local governments in an authoritarian manner, reducing them to mere departments under state governments.
In Kano State, Governor Abba Yusuf recently swore in newly elected chairmen for the state’s 44 local government areas, emphasizing the importance of the elections in the context of the Supreme Court’s ruling. He urged the new officials to focus on effective governance and accountability, highlighting the state government’s commitment to fair representation and the retention of local government councils from opposition parties.
The local elections in Kano saw participation from six political parties and were conducted by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC). The oath of office was administered by the Kano State Attorney General, Bar. Haruna Isa Dederi, and certificates of return were presented to the new officials.
The financial autonomy of local governments is expected to revitalize the hopes of Nigerians by ensuring that local governments are not merely appendages of state governments but rather autonomous entities capable of delivering effective governance and services to their communities.
