By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
The Nigerian central government is yet to remit Local Government funds almost three months after the Supreme Court Judgment.
As at last month September, the Federal Government did not pay the funds directly to LGs but rather to the Joint Accounts contrary to the ruling of the apex Court
Irohinoodua was informed that the FG also paid May 2024 revenue, 2024 April revenue, Revenue accrual to Federation Account
The FAAC met on Thursday in Abuja and shared a total sum of N1.298 trillion generated in September 2024 to the federal, states, and local governments.
Reports from FAAC and several state governments revealed that the monies were paid as usual into the joint accounts of the local governments as was the case before the Supreme Court judgment.
In July the Supreme Court ordered the Federal Government to pay d local governments’ monthly allocations into their accounts directly.
Several local Government Chairmen who spoke to Irohinoodua said the funds still go into the Joint Account of State and Local Governments.
The Federal Government has said it would obey the order and pay directly to the purse of the Local Councils.
The central government said all issues would be resolved in three months. This has not happened.
On Thursday, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Bawa Mokwa, confirmed the payments were yet to hit the accounts of Local Governments.
He said the disbursed amounts represented 7.9 percent increase from the N1.203 trillion shared for the previous month.
He said N1.298 trillion September 2024 Federation Accounts revenue was shared to the federal, states and local governments
He said the revenue distribution was announced at the October 2024 meeting of FAAC in Abuja.
He said deduction for cost of collection was N80.993 billion while total transfers, interventions and refunds were N878.946 billion.
The FG said gross statutory revenue of N1.043 trillion was received for the month of September 2024.
