The Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to end the long-standing interference by state governments in funds allocated to the 774 local government areas from the Federation Account. Shehu lamented the persistent encroachment by state governments on local government finances, stressing that the commission was prepared to take concrete steps to ensure financial autonomy at the grassroots. “The commission would like to establish a Local Government Committee now, like we used to do before the Supreme Court said we were busy bodies. “The crisis we are having in Nigeria today is the lack of functionality of local governments, and every single one of us knows this. Even under the military, the local governments were performing much better,” he said.

Source: Punch February 06, 2026 07:08 UTC