In commitment to implement the Supreme Court judgment in payment of statutory monthly allocation to Local Government Councils across the country, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation will commence direct payment by January ending.
All the 774 Local Government Council Areas will get funds directly thereby ending years of joint LGA accounts controlled by Governor’s of their various States.
A source close to the Office of the AGF disclosed that series of meetings have been taking place behind close doors to perfect modalities.
Also, a unit has been created by the AGF to handle Local Government fund matters with a Director deployed to be in charge.
CAPITAL POST recalled that the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled in favournof the Federal Government of Nigeria, which sought autonomy of the the third tier with monthly allocation to be paid directly to theirmvariius accounts.
“The first meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for this year has been scheduled for Wednesday with operational details for direct fund allocations to the LGs expected to feature prominently,” the publication wrote.
“Most of the 774 LGAs will fully start receiving their allocations from January 2025.
“Our committee will reconvene later this month to review its progress and finalise measures before the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) issues authorisation for the complete rollout,” it further quoted a source as saying.
Meanwhile, after the apex Court ruling, some Nigerians became apprehensive as nothing was heard of the implementation of the ruling again.
The joint Local Government Accounts was believed to be the conduit pipe of State Governors for looting and authority stealing of funds.
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu administration will be the first to implement full autonomy of Local Government Councils since 1999 when democracy was re-birthed in Nigeria.
