The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has expressed concern over alleged lobbying efforts by state governors to obstruct the direct disbursement of federal allocations to Local Government Authorities (LGAs).
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ishaq, the PRP reaffirmed its commitment to fiscal autonomy for local governments, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and reinforced by the Supreme Court ruling of July 11, 2024.
“It is disheartening to observe that, despite the clear legal framework affirming the financial independence of Local Governments, some of our emperor State Governors are utilizing their influence to undermine this critical democratic process,” Ishaq stated.
He emphasized that the Supreme Court’s ruling mandating direct allocation to democratically elected local councils was designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and the effective use of funds at the grassroots level.
He further criticized the longstanding misuse of local government funds through joint state-local government accounts, which have been widely abused by state governments.
The PRP warned that any attempts to divert local government funds back to state governments would undermine financial autonomy and violate constitutional mandates.
The party urged strict adherence to the direct disbursement policy, stressing that LGAs must have full control over their resources to effectively address local development needs.
It also vowed to resist any moves aimed at using local government allocations to service debts that do not directly benefit the councils.
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