President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has taken a significant step towards empowering local governments in Nigeria. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has inaugurated a 10-man Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments ¹ ²[3).
Committee Members:
– Chairman: Secretary to the Government of the Federation
– Members:
– Hon. Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy
– Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice
– Hon. Minister of Budget & Economic Planning
– Accountant General of the Federation
– Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
– Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Finance)
– Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission
– Representative of State Governors
– Representative of Local Governments
The committee’s primary objective is to ensure local governments function effectively without interference from state governments, aligning with the Constitution’s recognition of local governments as the third tier of government.
This move demonstrates President Tinubu’s commitment to implementing the Constitution’s provisions and promoting grassroots development. The committee’s efforts will likely have far-reaching implications for local governance and autonomy in Nigeria.
