By Musa Baba Adamu
The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member committee to enforce the Supreme Court verdict delivered on 11th July 2024 granting financial autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria.
The Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen, made this known in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
He said the SGF, George Akume, who inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Committee, would himself chair it.
According to him, members are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice – Member; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Accountant General of the Federation; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria CBN; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance; Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission; Representative of State Governors; and, Representative of Local 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.
“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.
He however stated that the “ Committee is not in doubt of the Commitment of the Present Administration under the stewardship of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make Nigeria better but with the attitude of the afford mentioned Chief Executives, that will not be acheivable unless and Until we all do the needful”.
