The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has expressed frustration over the delayed implementation of financial autonomy for local governments, as mandated by the Supreme Court ruling.

According to reports, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State recently revealed during a media chat that the federal government has yet to deposit monthly allocations directly into local government accounts.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, NULGE National President, Hakeem Ambali, criticized the lack of action, noting that six months have passed since the ruling, and implementation, originally scheduled for October 2024, is still pending.

“We are deeply disappointed that this has not been implemented yet,” Ambali stated. “During the Yuletide, we were reassured it would take effect in January. However, six months after the ruling, we’re still debating this issue, which is disheartening. The court ruling allowed no room for delays, and we urge President Bola Tinubu to act immediately.”

Ambali also called on the President to honor his promise, made during a New Year’s Day meeting with governors, to ensure the ruling is implemented by the end of January.

“At the Yuletide, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum met with the President, who reaffirmed his commitment to this directive. By the end of January, we expect funds to be credited directly to local governments. The era of routing local government funds through intermediaries must end. The court’s decision is final and must be respected,” Ambali said.

He added that NULGE had submitted proposals to the federal government to enhance accountability in local councils. This included publishing monthly allocations in national newspapers and forming a monitoring committee to oversee payments. Ambali also recommended capacity-building seminars for councillors to ensure funds are utilized effectively for grassroots development.

“The local government’s financial autonomy will drive significant development at the grassroots level,” Ambali explained. “Direct allocations will enable local governments to take full control of their finances. This is a transformative step.”

Ambali also condemned laws enacted by Governors Alex Otti of Abia State and Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, which he claimed undermined the autonomy granted to local governments.

“Governors Soludo and Otti hurriedly passed laws that contradict the Supreme Court ruling. Such laws are void and cannot override the court’s decision,” he stated.

He emphasized that the Attorney General has declared such actions unlawful and warned that anyone who violates the ruling would face the full force of the law. “Governors cannot evade accountability by undermining local government autonomy. These actions will not stand,” Ambali added.