On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court of Nigeria granted financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country. This decision mandates that state governments can no longer receive funds on behalf of local government councils; instead, allocations will be paid directly to the councils from the federation account. The ruling aims to prevent state governments from misusing local government funds and requires that only democratically elected officials, rather than appointees, run local governments.
The reaction from Nigerians on social media has been largely positive, with many seeing this development as a step forward for grassroots governance. Public affairs analysts and civil society organizations have also expressed optimism about the potential impact of this ruling.
Emmanuel Njoku, Director of Democracy and Governance at Connected Development (CODE), described the ruling as a victory for democracy and a significant opportunity for Nigerian youths to engage in local politics and leadership. Njoku, however, cautioned that political challenges, such as the control of State Independent Electoral Commissions, might still hinder the full realization of local government autonomy.
Paul James, Election Program Officer at YIAGA Africa, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the verdict reinforces the local government as a valid third tier of government and is crucial for service delivery at the grassroots level. James also called for further reforms, including ensuring that local government elections are conducted democratically.
Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate, offered a more skeptical view, arguing that the ruling would be ineffective if state governors continue to manipulate local government elections.
Despite these concerns, the general sentiment is that financial autonomy for local governments is a positive development that will increase scrutiny and accountability at the grassroots level.