The Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 11th of July 2024 delivered a landmark judgement ordering that full financial autonomy be granted to the 774 Local Government Areas (“LGAs”) of the Federation. This landmark judgment was premised on the provisions of Section 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice in Suit No: SC/CV/343/2024 initiated earlier this year against the 36 states of the Federation prayed the Supreme Court inter alia for an order granting full financial autonomy to the 774 LGAs of the Federation and an order directing that funds for LGAs managed by caretaker committees appointed by governors rather than elected chairmen and councilors be withheld.
In opposition the 36 governors represented by their attorneys general opposed the suit on various grounds chief amongst which was the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to hear the Suit, all which were dismissed by the Supreme Court.
As a result of this Landmark judgement all LGAs allocations from the federation account shall now be paid directly to the LGA’s.
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