- Toheeb Olalere
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has inaugurated a 10-member Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the Supreme Court’s judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria.
The committee aims to ensure that local governments operate independently without state government interference.
The committee comprises representatives from various ministries and organizations, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Chairman, Minister of Finance, Attorney General of the Federation, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, among others.
The move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to implement the constitutional provisions recognizing local governments as the third tier of government. The committee’s establishment follows the Supreme Court’s judgment on July 11, 2024, which granted financial autonomy to local governments.
The committee’s primary objective is to ensure the effective implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling, allowing local governments to function autonomously and make decisions without undue influence from state governments.