The Nigerian Supreme Court has declared that the federation’s 774 local government units (LGAs) should be granted full budgetary autonomy.
On Thursday, July 11, 2024, a seven-man panel of Supreme Court Justices led by Justice Garba Lawal issued the verdict.
On June 13, the Supreme Court heard the lawsuit between the federal and state governments over local government authority and reserved judgment.
The suit marked SC/CV/343/2024 was filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and it sought full autonomy and direct fund allocation to the 774 local government areas (LGAs) in the country.
Fagbemi requested the Supreme Court to order that funds for LGAs managed by caretaker committees appointed by governors, rather than elected chairmen and councillors, be withheld.
However, the 36 state governors, represented by their attorneys general, oppose the suit on various grounds, including their argument that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case.
In its rolling on Thursday (today), the Supreme Court ordered that full financial autonomy be granted to the LGAs, recognizing them as an independent segment of the federation.
