The resistance of several state governments in releasing local council allocations, despite a clear Supreme Court ruling, is a worrying sign of how entrenched disregard for the rule of law has become in Nigeria’s governance system.
Development Diaries reports that on 11 July 2024, the apex court declared unconstitutional the long-standing practice of routing local government funds through state governments, insisting on direct allocation from the Federation Account.
Yet, more than a year later, reports suggest that implementation remains largely unfulfilled, leaving councils starved of resources needed for grassroots development.
This reluctance goes to undermine the judiciary and also deepens the structural problems stunting Nigeria’s democratic federalism.
Civil society organisation, Connected Development (CODE) through its Follow The Money initiative has raised the alarm that several states are still holding on to local council allocations despite the ruling mandating their full release.
Through its Follow The Money initiative, CODE has demonstrated that transparency and accountability are not abstract ideals but practical tools for development.
Its track record, having tracked over N400 billion in budgeted funds across Nigeria and 12 African countries, proves that when citizens are equipped with information, they can demand and drive real change in their communities.
Yet, without the political will from state governments to respect the Supreme Court’s ruling, citizens’ efforts may continue to clash with systemic resistance.
The time has come for a clear reckoning.
The Secretary-General of Follow The Money International, Mukhtar Halilu, who spoke on the issue, said that the process remains largely unimplemented. He said many citizens were unaware of the funds released to their local councils, making it easier for state governments to continue diverting or withholding the allocations.
The organisation’s alarm over states’ defiance reflects the frustration of citizens who continue to see their councils starved of resources meant for schools, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Development Diaries calls on state governors to stop hoarding what is not theirs and fully comply with the Supreme Court ruling on direct local government allocations.
We also urge the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun to enforce compliance rigorously, ensuring funds reach the 774 local councils directly.
