LG Autonomy: 36 Governors Receives N4.5tn From Tinubu in 1 Year

According to a NewsVista reporter, the Nigerian federal government has continued to channel local government funds through state governors — despite a Supreme Court judgment that declared the practice unconstitutional.

Exactly one year after the July 11, 2024 ruling that granted full financial autonomy to all 774 local governments in the country, reports reveal that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has disbursed over ₦4.5 trillion to governors instead of directly funding the LGAs as ordered by the apex court.

The Supreme Court had ruled that local councils should receive their monthly allocations straight from the Federation Account. In response, the federal government had promised implementation, even directing the Central Bank to open separate accounts for each LGA.

However, that directive has largely stalled.

Data shows that from July 2024 to June 2025, monthly allocations ranging from ₦306 billion to over ₦434 billion continued to go through the state governments, leaving local councils financially dependent and vulnerable to political control — in direct violation of the Supreme Court’s mandate.

As legal experts raise concerns over the blatant disregard for the judiciary, many Nigerians are left asking: If the Supreme Court can be ignored, what hope is left for the rule of law?