Supreme Court bars Nigerian Govt from releasing allocations to LGs with unelected officials

The Supreme Court on Thursday barred the Federal Government from releasing allocations to local governments governed by unelected officials appointed by the state governor.

The apex court gave the order while delivering judgment in the local government autonomy suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on behalf of the Nigerian Government.

In the judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim barred the Federal Government from further paying LG allocations through the state governments, noting that the practice had been abused by governors.

Justice Agim accused state governors of retaining allocations and utilising them as they please, to the detriment of the local government councils.