A major constitutional showdown is brewing as Nigeria’s 774 local governments drag state governors to a Federal High Court over what they call “blatant disregard” for local government autonomy.
At the heart of the dispute is a controversial directive from several state governors, ordering local government officials not to open or operate independent accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Instead, they are to continue receiving allocations through the state governments—something many see as unconstitutional.
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) isn’t having it. They’ve filed a suit, arguing that the Nigerian constitution clearly provides for financial and administrative autonomy for local governments, and that state governors have hijacked that system for far too long.
“We are treated like errand boys, not a third tier of government,” one local government chairman told reporters anonymously. “We get crumbs after the state takes its cut, and there’s zero transparency.”
This conflict has simmered for years, but the CBN account ban appears to be the tipping point. For many in the local government system, it represents an attempt by governors to tighten their grip and sideline grassroots development completely.
Legal experts say the case could have long-term consequences. If the Federal High Court rules in favor of ALGON, it could reshape how power and funding are distributed in Nigeria.
State governments, on their end, argue they are acting within fiscal guidelines and that some local governments lack the capacity to manage direct funds.
But for most Nigerians—especially those in underserved rural areas—this isn’t just a legal fight. It’s about roads that never get fixed, health centers that stay locked, and money that never quite reaches the people it’s meant for.
As the case moves forward, all eyes are on the court—and on whether local governments will finally get the independence the constitution promised them.
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