The Supreme Court has held that henceforth, the Federal Government should pay any money standing to the credit of the Local Governments in the Federation directly to
the Local Government Areas managed by democratically elected officials.

In a lead judgment by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court has also held that it is unconstitutional for State Governments to retain and use allocation meant for the LGAs on their behalf without transferring same to them as provided in Section 162(3) of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court made these pronouncements in its ongoing judgment in the the suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) seeking full autonomy for the LGAs.

Details coming soon