The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON, has officially inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee aimed at implementing the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on July 11, 2024, which grants financial autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria. This development marks a significant step towards ensuring that local governments operate with increased independence and efficacy.
The announcement was made in a statement released by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information & Public Relations at the Office of the SGF. The committee, led by Senator Akume as Chairman, comprises high-ranking officials from various key government departments and agencies. The full roster of committee members includes:
- Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) – Chairman
- Hon. Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy – Member
- Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice – Member
- Hon. Minister of Budget & Economic Planning – Member
- Accountant General of the Federation – Member
- Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria – Member
- Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Finance) – Member
- Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission – Member
- Representative of State Governors – Member
- Representative of Local Governments – Member
The primary objective of this committee is to oversee the effective implementation of financial autonomy for local governments, as decreed by the Supreme Court. This autonomy is intended to enable local governments to manage their resources and affairs without undue interference from state governments, thereby enhancing their capacity to deliver services and address local needs more effectively.
This initiative is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to upholding constitutional provisions and strengthening the role of local governments as the third tier of governance in Nigeria. By ensuring local governments have the financial independence they need, the administration aims to promote better governance and foster development at the grassroots level.
Senator Akume emphasized the importance of this move in his inauguration speech, stating, “The implementation of this Supreme Court judgment is a crucial step towards empowering local governments to operate with the autonomy they require to serve their communities more effectively. Our goal is to ensure that these local bodies can function independently and efficiently, thereby contributing positively to the nation’s development.”
The committee is tasked with developing and enforcing the necessary frameworks and guidelines to operationalize the financial autonomy provisions. This includes addressing any legal and administrative challenges that may arise, coordinating with state governments, and ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are involved in the process.
