GistReel

The spokesman for the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Obiora Orji, has expressed frustration over the delayed implementation of direct payments to local governments.

Several months ago, the Supreme Court ruled that monthly allocations should be paid directly into the accounts of the 774 local government councils, bypassing the joint state-local government accounts managed by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

However, four months after the ruling, allocations are still being routed through the joint accounts.

Following the ruling, the Federal Government acknowledged the need to address operational issues before implementing the directive and set a three-month timeline for resolution. This period ended in October, but no progress has been made.

In an interview with Punch, Orji confirmed that the promised direct payments had not yet begun.
“It is what everybody is waiting for. It cannot be hidden, and once the payment is made, everyone will be aware,” Orji said.

Similarly, the National President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Akeem Ambali, attributed the delay to the lack of presidential approval for full local government financial autonomy.

Ambali revealed that NULGE had submitted its position paper to the inter-ministerial committee established by the Federal Government to facilitate the Supreme Court’s directive.

He noted that the committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, had concluded its deliberations and submitted a technical report to President Bola Tinubu for final approval.