The Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated a 10-member Inter-Ministerial Committee tasked with enforcing the Supreme Court judgment, which was delivered on July 11, 2024, granting financial autonomy to local governments across Nigeria.
This development was disclosed by Segun Imohiosen, the Director of Information & Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), in Abuja on Tuesday. The committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, aims to ensure the full implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision, enabling local governments to operate independently without interference from state governments.
“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,” Imohiosen stated.
The committee’s membership includes key government officials such as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Accountant General of the Federation, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Other members are the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, a representative of state governors, and a representative of local governments.
“This move is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to give appropriate implementation to the provisions of the Constitution, which recognizes local governments as the third tier of government,” the statement added.
