Politics
Governors vs. Grassroots: Supreme Court’s Local Government Autonomy Ruling Faces Sabotage
Governors vs. Grassroots: Supreme Court’s Local Government Autonomy Ruling Faces Sabotage
Nearly nine months after the Supreme Court granted full financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas (LGAs), implementation of the historic judgment is being quietly sabotaged—this time from within.
Investigations by The PUNCH have uncovered a deepening standoff between the Federal Government and several state governors, many of whom have allegedly resorted to intimidation, threats, and policy delays to prevent local government chairmen from opening designated Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) accounts for direct allocation payments.
“Our governor has threatened us not to open accounts with the CBN for the direct payment of our allocation,” a visibly frustrated LGA chairman from a South-East state told The PUNCH, requesting anonymity out of fear of political retaliation.
According to the Supreme Court ruling, LGAs are to receive their monthly allocations directly from the Federation Account, a long-sought step towards grassroots development and financial independence. However, several chairmen across the country claim they are being coerced into compliance with governors’ preferences—including proposals to return 50% of their allocations in exchange for the right to open the accounts.
Federal Push, State Resistance
In response to the court ruling, the Federal Government set up a high-level implementation panel, which directed the CBN to open individual accounts for all LGAs. The Accountant-General of the Federation, Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and key stakeholders have also been in negotiations to iron out implementation logistics.
But The PUNCH has learned that the CBN process has been sluggish, with only Delta State LGAs having submitted full account details to date. Compounding the delays are what sources describe as “stringent requirements” from the apex bank—such as the submission of two-month bank statements—posing logistical challenges for many LGAs.
An LGA chairman in the South-West explained, “All council areas here can’t meet up with the conditions because, frankly, governors have control of the accounts. They give us whatever they feel like.”
In Benue, a chairman revealed, “They (the governors) are pushing for us to open accounts in commercial banks instead. They know once it’s the CBN, they lose access to our funds.”
Federal Silence, Fragmented Compliance
The vacuum in presidential clarity is further muddying the waters. Though governors reportedly met with President Bola Tinubu to lobby for commercial bank accounts over CBN accounts, it remains unclear where the presidency stands.
In Nasarawa, where officials claim all CBN accounts are opened, the state’s NULGE chairman, Adamu Sharhabilu, expressed frustration: “We have yet to receive direct allocations. The money is still sent to Joint State-LGA Accounts.”
Another Nasarawa chairman contradicted this optimism, blaming the Federal Government for failure to bypass state structures and send allocations directly. “We have so many accounts ready to receive the money, but they won’t send it,” he lamented.
A Patchwork of Responses Nationwide
Across the country, compliance is uneven. In Kwara, NULGE boss Seun Oyinlade said, “We’re not aware any of our 16 LGAs have opened CBN accounts. We’ll only know when funds are paid.”
In Yobe, March salaries were reportedly still paid through the Ministry of Local Government, with no trace of direct payment implementation.
In Zamfara, ALGON chairman Alhaji Samaila Moriki admitted no accounts had been opened yet, citing the need for “further instructions.”
Meanwhile, in Jigawa, ALGON chairman Prof. Abdulrahman Salim insisted the process is “progressing,” with most administrative steps completed and biometric registration pending. But a NULGE source cast doubt, warning that governors could “change the process entirely” at will.
Even in Kano, where 44 LGAs await CBN verification, no accounts have been activated. “We’ve read about it in the newspapers,” said Garko LGA chairman Saminu Garko, highlighting the information vacuum between federal institutions and local authorities.
A Standoff with National Implications
The Supreme Court ruling had sparked hope for true devolution of power, ending decades of financial strangulation of LGAs by state governments. Yet, the fierce pushback from governors now threatens to render the landmark judgment toothless.
One chairman summarized the national mood:
“What’s the point of autonomy on paper if governors still hold the purse strings?”
As grassroots development stalls, pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to enforce compliance and on the CBN to ease its procedural barriers.
But unless decisive action is taken soon, the dream of an empowered third tier of government may remain just that—a dream.
Governor Bago Inaugurates APC Digital Media Sub-Committee Ahead of National Convention.
Governor Umaru Bago has inaugurated the Digital Media Sub-Committee for the forthcoming National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scheduled to hold on March 27 and 28, 2026 in Abuja.
Chairing the sub-committee, Governor Bago tasked members with the responsibility of effectively communicating the party’s manifesto to the public.
He emphasized the need to leverage social media platforms to highlight the achievements and ongoing efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that communication gaps have posed challenges that must now be decisively addressed.
The Co-Chair of the sub-committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, echoed the Governor’s position, urging members to project the activities of both the party and the government to a broader audience.
He called for a deliberate and coordinated effort to showcase the party’s achievements and policy direction, stressing the importance of shaping a compelling and consistent narrative across all digital platforms.
Delivering a presentation to the committee, Otega Ogra, SSA to the President on New Media, who serves as Secretary of the sub-committee, outlined strategic focus areas to guide the team’s operations.
His presentation highlighted communication priorities and actionable steps to achieve the committee’s mandate and strengthen the party’s digital engagement.
VP Shettima Set to Lead Delegation to Zamfara as Governor Dauda Lawal Formally Joins APC
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finalized plans to receive Vice President Kashim Shettima for the formal defection and reception of Governor Dauda Lawal into the ruling party, scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
State APC Chairman, Tukur Danfulani Maikatako, disclosed this during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Gusau, the state capital. He noted that the Vice President would be joined by the party’s national leadership to mark what he described as a landmark political realignment in the state.
Maikatako expressed the party’s excitement over Governor Lawal’s return, recalling that Zamfara had historically been an APC stronghold and that the Governor was previously a bona fide member of the party before his earlier exit.
“We all know that Zamfara has long been one of the APC’s stronghold states, where the defected Governor was once a bona fide member. Now that he has decided to return home, having been satisfied that the APC remains his second choice after the one he left for obvious reasons,” Maikatako stated.
The Chairman called on all party faithful across the 147 wards in the state’s 14 local government areas to turn out en masse to honour the Vice President’s visit. He emphasized that the event was strategically positioned to bolster the party’s popularity and strengthen its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strong appeal for unity, Maikatako urged members to set aside all factional tendencies, stressing that the APC remained one political family with shared goals, particularly the ambition to make Zamfara and Nigeria great again.
Echoing similar sentiments, a former state APC Chairman, Lawal M. Liman, appealed to members to cascade the message to their wards and local government areas. He reinforced the need for cohesion, noting that the party’s collective strength would be critical to achieving success in future elections.
All eyes are now on Gusau as the ruling party prepares for a high-profile political gathering expected to further consolidate its influence in Zamfara State.
Governor Dauda Lawal Named Part of Presidential Delegation for Historic UK State Visit
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has been named as a member of the presidential entourage that will accompany President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on a historic two-day State Visit to the United Kingdom.
According to a statement from the Zamfara State Government House on Monday, the Governor will depart Abuja for the UK on Tuesday for the visit, which is scheduled to take place on March 18 and 19 at the invitation of the British Royal Family.
During the visit, King Charles III will host President Tinubu, the First Lady, and the Nigerian delegation at Windsor Castle, where they will view a special exhibition of Royal Collection items related to Nigeria. The Royal Family will also host a State Banquet in honour of the Nigerian guests on the evening of Wednesday, March 18.
The presidency has outlined that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. President Tinubu is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which are expected to lead to expanded bilateral discussions and the signing of Memorandums of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
The President will also serve as the guest of honour at the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, which showcases contemporary art and culture, and will participate in a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the diaspora community.
The Zamfara State Government expressed confidence that Governor Lawal’s participation in the high-level delegation will provide valuable networking opportunities, opening significant prospects for investment and economic benefits for Zamfara State. The visit will also see Governor Lawal display his repertoire of knowledge on global policy and corporate governance and also pitch the Mineral and Farming rich state to potential investors during the bilateral meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
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