The Senate has called for the inclusion of local government representatives in the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to ensure equitable distribution of federation funds.
The move aims to enforce a Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for grassroots governance.
The resolution, passed Tuesday, followed a motion moved by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and presented by Kogi East Senator Isah Jibrin.
It seeks to integrate council officials from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into FAAC deliberations, aligning with a July 2024 Supreme Court ruling that mandated direct allocation of funds to local governments, bypassing state authorities.
Despite constitutional recognition as Nigeria’s third tier of government, the 774 local councils have long suffered fiscal suffocation under state-controlled joint accounts.
Governors have historically wielded disproportionate power over council funds, often dissolving elected officials illegally and managing allocations opaquely—a practice repeatedly struck down by courts but persistently entrenched.
The July Supreme Court verdict, celebrated as a milestone for grassroots democracy, ordered the Accountant-General of the Federation to channel allocations directly to local councils.
However, implementation hurdles persist, with state governors still obstructing access to funds.
During the plenary debate, lawmakers emphasized that FAAC representation would institutionalize compliance with the court order.
Kebbi Central Senator Adamu Aliero recalled that direct remittances were standard practice post-1999, arguing, “Including LG representatives will restore transparency—governors once had no visibility into council finances, and we must return to that accountability.”
Plateau South Senator Simon Lalong shared alarming reports from his constituency: “Local officials disclosed they’ve been unaware of their allocations for two years. This motion is their only hope for clarity.” Benue North-West Senator Titus Zam stressed, “Grassroots development hinges on empowering councils financially. This is democracy in action.”
Following a majority voice vote, Deputy Senate President Jibrin directed the resolution to be formally communicated to Finance Minister Wale Edun, who chairs FAAC.
The move signals the Senate’s push to dismantle decades of state-level overreach and revitalize local governance—a critical test for Nigeria’s democratic deepening.
