Nigeria Supreme Court ruling on LGA autonomy fuels state police debate

On July 11 2024 Nigeria’s Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment ordering that the 774 Local Government Areas receive statutory allocations directly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, but only if each LGA has a democratically elected executive. The court barred state governors from dissolving elected local councils or replacing them with appointed caretaker committees, and warned that councils without elected officials would not receive any funds.

Stakeholders contend that many governors have delayed implementing the ruling, arguing that the lack of direct funding and governance at the local tier hampers efforts to combat insurgency, banditry and kidnapping in rural areas. The debate has intensified as the presidency and the National Assembly move to constitutionalise a state police force, raising questions about the balance of security responsibilities between federal and state authorities. Civil society groups and political parties continue to demand full implementation of the judgment.

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has filed a suit in the Federal High Court seeking to halt disbursements without its approval and to obtain representation at FAAC meetings, underscoring the contention surrounding the funding mechanism.