Governors Bar LGs From Opening CBN Accounts, Stall Autonomy Implementation

Several state governors are reportedly blocking local government chairmen from opening Central Bank accounts, a key step in implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling on LG autonomy. Nearly nine months after the court granted LGs financial independence, many governors are accused of intimidating chairmen to maintain control over federal allocations.

Only Delta State has submitted LG account details, as most states cite pressure from governors and CBN’s stringent requirements as reasons for the delay. Some governors even rejected proposed compromises, such as receiving 50% of allocations post-CBN transfer.

While some states like Nasarawa and Jigawa claim progress, local government workers across the country say funds are still routed through state-controlled joint accounts, undermining full autonomy. Stakeholders warn that failure to implement the ruling threatens the financial independence of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs.