Follow Us on Google
…Outrage as some governors move to thwart financial autonomy
By Olakunle Olafioye (Lagos), Uchenna Inya (Abakaliki), George Onyejiuwa and Stanley Uzoaru (Owerri), Tony John (Port Harcourt), Jude Onwuamanam (Jos), Ighomuaye Lucky (Benin), Okey Sampson (Umuahia), Scholastica Hir (Makurdi), Femi Folaranmi (Yenagoa), and Emmanuel Uzor (Awka)
To a large extent, the state governors have failed to prove wrong the pundits who claimed that state chief executives would do everything within their powers to thwart the good intentions of the Supreme Court, which gave judgment in favour of direct remittance of statutory allocations to the third tier of government – the local government areas.
Findings by Sunday Sun reporters indicated that not long after the people jubilated over the apex court judgment in the suit instituted against the state governments by the Federal Government for a judicial interpretation of the constitutional provision on the funding of the third tier of government, some of the governors are looking for ways to subvert the judgment.
The intention of the Supreme Court judgment was for LGAs to receive direct allocations and utilise the funds to serve the people at the grassroots.
But most of the reports from the states are showing pictures of frustrations heaped on the doorsteps of the council chairmen.
LAGOS
With cautious optimism, local government authorities in Lagos State said that they are awaiting the first direct allocations from the Federation Account to their respective accounts.
Findings by Sunday Sun showed that barring any unforeseen circumstances the first of such payments will hit the various local government accounts in a week or two.
A senior council official at Agege Local Government Area who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “So far we are yet to receive any allocations from the Federation Account. We have been made to understand that the direct disbursement of local government allocations will take off this month. We are still waiting for it: perhaps (it will come) in the next one or two weeks.”
However, it remains to be seen if the newly found financial autonomy by local governments in the country would be allowed by the state governments to thrive.
Some top officials at some local government councils in Lagos confided in Sunday Sun that while they were hopefully looking forward to the new dispensation, they expressed the view that there are still no sufficient and clear indications that their financial autonomy would be without any form of encumbrances from the state governors.
“The body language of the state governors in response to the new arrangement is eloquent and audible enough. It is not only in Lagos State, but all over the country. But as things stand now, no one can categorically state how the whole arrangement will pan out. We are only waiting to see how things will unfold,” another top council official told our correspondent.
EBONYI
Local government chairmen in Ebonyi State have been receiving their monthly allocations directly from the Federation Account.
The Chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Augustine Uburu, told Sunday Sun that since Governor Francis Nwifuru came into power, the council chairmen in the state have always directly received their monthly FAAC allocations.
“We have always received our allocations here in Ebonyi State. So, whether we are receiving directly from the Federal Government or not, what we do here in Ebonyi State is quite different from what they do in other states of the federation.
“Here, the council chairmen are fully in charge of their allocations. Our governor doesn’t interfere in our allocations,” he said.
Therefore, the people of the state have implored the local government chairmen to use the allocations for the development of their areas.
One of them, Anyigor Philip, alleged that some local governments are in deplorable state because of lack of amenities, urging the local government chairmen to utilize the allocations to develop their areas.
“Some local government chairmen in our dear state receive N180 million monthly as allocations, some even get up to N200 million.
“After paying workers salaries, they still have huge amount of money for projects. Unfortunately, most of them are not doing anything for their local governments. They just collect the allocations, and after paying salaries, they pocket the rest,” he said.
PLATEAU
The local government areas in Plateau State have not received any allocation directly to them as ordered by the Supreme Court.
The Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, J. K. Chris, told our correspondent that he was not in a position to know whether the local council had directly received any allocation from the Federal Government.
He said that only the people in the Finance Department could say categorically whether the council had received the statutory allocation.
However, a source close to the finance department, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak said that he was not aware if any money had hit the account of the local government directly.
IMO
On September 30, 2024, Governor Hope Uzodimma sworn in the 54 newly elected Imo State Local Government Area chairmen and vice chairmen and a week later the members of the legislative councils of the 27 councils were also sworn in at their various local government areas.
However, two months later, most of the local government council bosses and their vice chairmen are yet to officially resume duties owing to lack of funds.
Most of the councils, which were hitherto ran by some administrators are dilapidated and in a sorry state.
It was rumoured that the state governor, Uzodimma, has not released to any of the 27 councils the allocation of September, which was alleged to have been paid into the coffers of the state government at the conclusion of the council elections held on September 21.
Therefore, without funds, most of the Imo new council chairmen are somewhat stranded.
As confirmed by the Vice Chairman of Ngor Okpala LGA, Hon. Kizito Onuoha , the newly elected officials of the council are yet to fully resume their official duties as they are still trying to get their offices ready.
He said: “We have not fully resumed, even my office is not ready yet.”
One of the council chairmen who does not want to be quoted said that the elected council chairmen are under severe pressure to perform, adding that they are yet to begin work because no kobo has been released directly to the council’s treasury.
He said they are hoping that the November allocations from the Federal allocation will be given directly to the local governments.
He also disclosed that all eyes are now on the elected council chairmen and members of the legislative councils to deliver, saying that if they get the money he is certain that they will do well.
“Honestly , we are under enormous ptessure from the people to deliver and the people also know how much that comes to the councils from the federation account every month because it is usually published on the national dailies. Now, the people from my local government already know that the council receives approximately N300 million every month and sometimes slightly higher.
“From September to this November the council would have received close to a billion naira and the people know that. But as it is now we have not resumed work because there is no fund yet. Initially, we had hoped that the governor would have given us the October allocations, but it was not so. As I speak nothing is happening right now because the funds are not avaliable. Hopefully, if we get this November allocations directly then work will start.
“In my own case, most of the roads in my council have to be at least graded to make it motorable as we enter the Christmas period in a few days,” he said
Similarly, the Legislative leader of Ehime Mbano council, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Onyekachi, said that as soon as they receive allocations that the real action will commence.
“As soon as we receive allocations, action will commence, but for now we are just trying to marshall out plans. We are ready to do our duties as legislators at the council to ensure that our people enjoy the dividends of democracy. And our people expect the narratives to change this time around and we are going to change it for the better,” he promised.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees of Imo Youth Assembly, Dr Harold Wilson Omumo, noted that with the recent Supreme Court judgment which has granted financial autonomy to the local governments, the councils will now receive their allocations from the federation account directly to their own account and not the state/local government joint accounts any more.
He said that with the new situation, the local councils now have their fate in their own hands and that stakeholders from the local governments will now hold the elected council chairmen to account.
“The Supreme Court judgment that upheld the autonomy of the local governments as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended, is the biggest achievement of the administration of President Tinubu so far. I know that the governors have been fighting to thwart that ruling by using the states Assembly to make some laws that make it mandatory for the local government councils to remit a certain per cent of their monthly allocations to the state government on state projects.
“Like in Imo State, it is rumoured that the state governor had told the councils chairmen that they must remit 70 per cent of their total allocation to the state every month. I don’t really know how it is, but my honest advice to the chairmen is that irrespective of whatever deal they had made with the governor, they should have it at the back of their mind that the people will hold them to account and not the governor on how the allocations ware managed,” he said.
However, the newly elected council chairman of Owerri West Local Government Area, Victor Osigwe, acknowledged the receipt of the November Federal allocation for his council.
Although Osigwe who was the former Sole Administrator of the council before he was elected the substantive chairman in September said there would be a lot of expectations for the new system .
Already, he added that vouchers for the payment of salaries are being raised, adding that the system will improve the giant strides of the councils.
He said: “Yes, we have received the federal allocation; so many things are being expected, but we would do our best, to do more than we have done before. As we speak now, vouchers for the payment of the salaries of the staff are being prepared”.
The same expectations are being made by the residents of the state.
A teacher who identified himself as Ikechukwu said that this is the time for the newly elected council chairmen to account for why they were elected for.
“Let them prove to us why they were elected, they have a lot on their shoulders, let them provide good governance at the rural areas, they should strictly detach themselves from the state government and usher in true local autonomy,” he said.
Another native of the state, Mrs Stella Obi, want the new chairmen to look at the rural roads in the community and address the menace of herdsmen infiltrating into their farms.
“It’s a welcome development, but we don’t want a situation where the chairmen are controlled by the governor, they should truly be independent and provide good roads in the rural areas, our farmers need protection too, they should address the problem of herdsmen destroying our crops in our villages,” she said.
EDO
In Edo, the Local Government Chairman of Oredo at the heartbeat of Benin City, Mr Tom Obaseki, while responding to the questions said that the Federal Government itself had not started implementation of the direct remittance of allocations to local government councils.
He said that he had heard local council chairmen in other states complaining of financial strangulation by their governors, stating that the story was quite different in Edo State.
Chairman Obaseki said that during the tenure of the immediate past governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, allocations due to the councils were always given to them, noting that if the Federal Government has started the direct remittance, there would not be much significant changes as they were never starved of funds.
Ovia North East Local Government Council’s chairman, Mr Collins Osamede Ogbewe, said the full implementation of the local government autonomy will make more fund available for the council chairmen to embark on people-oriented projects as well as implement several programmes that will impact positively on the lives of the people in the communities.
Ogbewe, who spoke through his media aide, Valentine Osunbor, said the chairmen have not started receiving their allocations directly from the Federal Government, noting that the full implementation of the autonomy will engender rapid development.
On what the people at the grassroots would benefit, Mr Tony Abolo, said there had never been a time the people were carried along, notng that they could only talk of impact if they were carried along from the beginning.
ABIA
The elected local government chairmen in Abia State have not received the direct statutory allocations, three weeks after they were sworn into office.
Some of the chairmen contacted by Sunday Sun were not forthcoming with any response as to whether FAAC allocations had been released directly to their local government accounts.
The Chairman of one the local governments in Abia Central zone who requested not be mentioned on print, told Sunday Sun that it would be difficult to know how their allocations would be coming since they are yet to receive any since they were inaugurated early this November.
He, however, said it would be a welcome development for local councils to receive FAAC allocations directly.
The LG boss said that if Nigeria is talking about local government autonomy without the councils getting allocations directly from the Federal Government, the essence of the much talked about autonomy would have been defeated.
His words: “We are just new on the seat, we have not received our allocation from the Federal Government. Until that is done, one will be able to know if they are going to match their words with action.
“As far as I am concerned, talking about LG autonomy without the councils receiving allocation directly from the Federal Government, will negate that good intention.
“If the new found autonomy for local governments is religiously implemented, the positive multiplier effect will be much.
“The important impact it will have is to ensure development of the rural communities which hitherto had suffered serious neglect.”
Some people believe that the Federal Government’s resolve to release FAAC allocations directly to local governments, bypassing the state governments, was a commendable and positive step towards achieving local government autonomy in the country.
However, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Benjamin Apugo, said any action taken without removing local government election from states Independent electoral bodies, will not guarantee full autonomy for the councils.
“I believe that LG autonomy in Nigeria is not yet complete. When you give them autonomy and leave state governments to conduct their election, it means they have no autonomy yet.
“INEC should have conducted the elections where every party will contest. The way things are presently, the governor’s party will always score 100 over 100. If that is the case, where then lies the autonomy of the Councils?” he queried.
A community leader in Igbere, in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Chief Felix Obama, expressed optimism that with the Federal Government’s resolve to release FAAC money direct to local governments, it will enhance development at the community level.
He, however, was not happy with the governors’ maneuvers to thwart the Federal Government efforts in this direction.
BENUE
Local government chairmen in Benue State are yet to receive money from FAAC directly to the LG account.
Some of the elected chairmen who were contacted were not forthcoming with comments on the issue. They did not take the calls made to them or respond to messages sent to their phones.
However, the Chairman of Logo Local Government Area (LGA), Hon Clement Kav, who spoke to Sunday Sun on phone said that no local government had received the allocation in their accounts.
He said when that happens the people at the grassroots will enjoy the dividends of democracy as they plan to immediately embark on impactful projects like construction or rehabilitation of rural roads and provisions of other infrastructure and facilities to better the lives of their people.
Kav, who noted that the elected chairmen had spent just one month and two weeks in office, said: “We are yet to receive direct allocation into the LG accounts. It is not only Benue State, but across the federation.
His words: “But we are saying if that happens, it will impact positively on the people at the grassroots. The people of Logo especially would have dividends of democracy and developments will come to Logo LG.
“I would do development if that money is given to us. If you come to the Logo Local Government Area we do not have one street to boast of. But when the Federal Government fulfils its promise, I will embark on road projects in the rural communities so that our people can convey their produce and other goods to the market. That way too we can generate revenue.
“Secondly, in Logo LG headquarters we don’t have social amenities like staff quarters and a guest house. So, I will ensure I put smiles on the faces of my LG staff.”
He also lamented the serious security challenges in Logo LGA, saying: “On my first day in office I went to Ayilamo where the herdsmen killed many of my people and I took them to the hospital.
“On the third week, I was at Mbagbera, the council Ward of the former governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, where herdsmen killed over 14 people. There is need for us to tackle the issue of insecurity especially herdsmen killing in my local government.
“As we speak, we have deployed over 300 policemen to Ayilamo and some are in Mbagbera. So, Benue local governments would have much development especially with what the state government is already doing.”
Kav lauded the initiatives of Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, in uplifting the people at the grassroots especially farmers.
He said the governor has ensured timely provision of fertilizers and other inputs for farmers to ensure that they put food not only on their families’ tables, but that adequate food is produced for Nigerians in general.
Meanwhile, the people of the state have urged the newly elected chairmen to sit up and develop their areas to enable the people at that level have a feel of good governance.
Also, Enewa Inalegwu from Otukpo LGA said that she expects the elected chairmen to function to the highest level and deliver the desired democracy dividends to the people.
“But somehow, they end up disappointing us all the time because the state governors have a way of going behind to deduct everything. We pray and hope that it will be different with our governor and the new elected chairmen.”
Also speaking, Jonathan Tyonongo and Terfa Igbe both from Ukum LGA said they expect that the new chairman will liaise with the state governor and the Federal Government to address the issues of insecurity.
“We expect that our local governments will be secured, we need rural roads. We can’t transport our agric produce to the market due to bad roads. We need water, rural electrification and other infrastructure. If this happens, we would score them well,” Igbe said.
RIVERS
The local government chairmen in Rivers State are trudging on in their bid to deliver the dividends of democracy in their various councils despite the judicial missiles being hurled at them from Abuja.
It would be recalled that in 48 hours after they were sworn-in by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, after the October 5, 2024 local government election, a Federal High Court in Abuja on October 30, restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial institutions from releasing federal allocations to the state government following political crisis going on in the state.
However, Governor Fubara while speaking at the thanksgiving event held at Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, to mark the first year anniversary of his surviving the efforts of the 27 members of the state House of Assembly to remove him, assured the council chairmen that he would release their allocation to them that week.
With the assurance, the 23 local government chairmen have redoubled their determination to keep the promises made to the electorate at the grassroots irrespective of the antics of the Abuja forces regarding federal allocations.
As they resumed duty at their respective council areas, they assured their people, among other things, to prioritize issues of security, empowerment, education, agriculture and power.
One of the council chairmen, Martins Nwigbo, of Khana Local Government Area, declared that his administration would accord top priority to issues of security, empowerment and restoration of power, especially Bori, the council headquarters and traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people.
He decried the massive looting and vandalisation of the council’s property, saying that it would take the resources that would have been used to provide other basic facilities to replace vandalized and looted items.
He said: “We came in to meet a council office that is not in good shape at all. This place cannot be habitable by anybody. There are reptiles and grasses all over the place. To worsen it all our people came here, looted the place and turned everything upside down. This calls for concern. How can we, as a people, continue like this? This is the only thing we have and our people will come here to loot it.”
He pointed out that while other local government areas where similar skirmishes occurred, they did not record incidents of looting and vandalism, noting that what happened in Khana was unprecedented.
Meanwhile, many people at the grassroots are worried about the lingering political crisis in the state between Governor Fubara and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
According to them, the crisis, which has extended to court retraining financial institutions from releasing funds to the state government, will also affect the performance of the council chairmen.
A senior council worker at Obio/Akpor LGA, who craved to remain anonymous, said that the local government autonomy is a welcome development meant to benefit the various communities.
“But, my fear is will the governor allow and encourage council chairmen to operate unhindered? If there would not be ill-feelings from the governor, development will reach our rural areas,” he said.
BAYELSA
Long before the Supreme Court judgment, the eight local government councils in Bayelsa State, namely Ekeremor, Brass, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw, Kolokuma/ Opokuma, Yenagoa, Nembe, and Sagbama, had been enjoying autonomy in handling their statutory allocations from the Federation Account.
The state government had consistently stated that it does not tamper with funds for local government councils.
Rather, because most of the councils suffer deficits after paying salaries, the state government provides additional funds for them.
Officials of the local government councils confirmed to Sunday Sun that even before the Supreme Court verdict, the councils in Bayelsa were receiving their money directly.
“In Bayelsa State, the state government does not withhold funds meant for the local councils, because the money is not enough. The state government ensures the payment of primary school teachers and also augments LG allocations from FAAC. This is why some local government chairmen can even execute projects’’, a senior NULGE official, who does not want his name in print, said.
In August 2024 while inaugurating two chairmen for the Rural Development Centres, Governor Douye Diri made it clear that the state government would continue to support the local councils irrespective of the Supreme Court verdict on autonomy.
‘’My administration will continue to give full support to the local government system, regardless of the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy.
“Unlike the impression being peddled that state governments control what goes to the local government accounts from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, the Bayelsa State government augments their funds, as some councils run in deficit.”
Further investigations by Sunday Sun indicated that the state government has continued to play a supervisory role for the local councils to ensure there is transparency and judicious use of funds.
To this end, the state government early this year bared the local government councils from taking loans from banks.
Diri who spoke while inaugurating the eight elected council chairmen said the state government wants to see a robust local government council with a clear development agenda.
“I want you to uphold the tenets of transparency, consultation and keep in touch with your people as you are the closest to the grassroots. Ensure that you live a quiet and peaceful life. We want to see peace and development in your local governments.
“’We will not tamper with your funds. Rather we would assist you with your development. And I reiterate that local government chairmen should desist from obtaining loans with interests.’’
The state government has been building the capacity of the local government chairmen and their officials for effective service delivery as part of its efforts to invigorate the local government administration.
Mr Collins Abiri commenting on the impact of autonomy on the local government said that with the efforts being put in by the state government, the local government councils have no choice, but to perform.
‘’There is no hiding place for the local government chairmen. The state government has told the whole world that they do not tamper with LG funds. They have also disclosed that they even provide funds to support the councils. So, what excuse does the local government chairmen have for not performing? All eyes are on them for performance. Thank God that the state government has also said there are going to be key performance indicators. With that it would be glaring to see the local government chairmen who are working for their people,” Abiri said.
ANAMBRA
There seems to be no respite yet for elected chairmen of the 21 local government areas of Anambra State over the full control of their statutory allocations from the Federation Account.
Recall that Anambra State quickly complied with the Supreme Court order by electing local government chairmen to oversee the 21 council areas of the state, to enable the LG receive their due allocations from FAAC directly, so that the elected executive councils could deliver speedy transformation and development at the grassroots level.
Despite the inauguration of democratically elected chairmen in the state, the Anambra State government enacted various laws that seem to impinge on the full operation and financial autonomy of the council areas.
Prof Chukwuma Soludo had also warned that granting full autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas could lead to “humongous chaos,” arguing that such a move would not result in sustainable development.
He made the statement after signing the new legislation entitled “Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024,” which was passed by the State House of Assembly.
Soludo emphasised that Section 7 of the constitution empowers state governments to enact laws for the administration of local government areas, underscoring the importance of state oversight.
Many people had raised eyebrows over the speedy enactment of the law which they believe was done with a view to tampering with local government funds from FAAC.
According to a legal practitioner at Anyamelum Local Government Area, Nonso Onyeneke, there is no new thing in the administration of the local government system in the state despite the Supreme Court judgment.
Onyeneke argued that the speedy passage of the Anambra Local Government Law was to enable the governor to have access to the council funds, thereby preventing the elected local government chairmen from embarking on any developmental projects within their localities.
“There is no expectation anywhere in this state as far as local government and their financial autonomy is concerned. This is because we have a governor who through the House of Assembly enacted a law that empowers the state to oversee the council areas. This simply means that the chairmen are still in bondage and subject to the whims and caprices of the governor. So the money will still be hijacked at the state level,” he said.
For Mrs Oge Iruoma, a staff of Awka North Local Government Area, the resolution of the Federal Government to release FAAC directly to the elected chairmen is a welcome development.
Her words: “We are happy, especially now that chairmen can have access to their council funds and be able to embark on projects within their areas. In most cases, the governors are so busy and concerned with developing the capital cities, but little or nothing has been recorded at the grassroots, but with this development, at least council chairman can construct at least a culvert in the area.”
Meanwhile, members of the National Assembly from Anambra State, including, Senator Tony Nwoye, George Ozodinobi, Afam Ogene, Idu Emeka, and Anekwe Peter, have voiced their concerns over the new local government law enacted by the Soludo administration, accusing the governor of trying to have unlimited access to the council funds.
