The Federal Government (FG) has vowed to prosecute elected officials involved in the diversion of funds allocated to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas (LGAs).
This comes as the FG intensifies efforts to ensure financial autonomy for local governments, a principle upheld by the Nigerian Supreme Court.
At the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Abuja Chapter of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, made it clear that those found guilty of misappropriating local government funds will face severe legal consequences.
Fagbemi described the diversion of LGA funds by governors as an impeachable offense. He warned that such actions, which undermine the intended use of these funds for local development, will not go unpunished.
“The deplorable state of many LG secretariats across the country prompted the Federal Government to sue the 36 state governors at the Supreme Court,” Fagbemi said. “We may take further legal action to challenge the states’ authority to conduct area council elections.”
The minister’s remarks followed growing concerns that some governors have been manipulating local government elections by installing loyalists in positions of power. This has, in turn, allowed them to exert undue control over the funds meant for grassroots development.
While the FG does not have the power to interfere in local government elections, Fagbemi emphasized its authority to prosecute elected officials involved in financial mismanagement. He also pointed out that the federal government would continue to uphold the rights of local governments and their autonomy, as affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Fagbemi also touched on the issue of governors requiring local government officials to seek approval for basic expenses. He criticized this as a form of control that hindered the efficient running of local government affairs. “Even when the secretariat needed to buy stationery, you had to notify the governor in advance,” he said. “We have listened to such funny arguments, but these officials must understand that the governors have immunity, but they do not.”
He went on to warn that any local government officials collaborating with governors to divert funds would face serious legal repercussions. “It is very easy for you to get yourself into Kuje or other prisons across Nigeria,” he cautioned.
Fagbemi’s statement also praised President Bola Tinubu for standing firm on the issue of local government autonomy despite political pressure. “I give kudos to President Tinubu, who despite the pressure, was able to stand up and say that he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that the 774 local governments are also people to be protected,” he said.
The AGF’s comments have sparked a renewed debate about the financial mismanagement in Nigeria’s local governments. For years, the country’s LGAs have struggled with poor infrastructure, lack of basic services, and misappropriation of allocated funds.
The Federal Government’s stance is clear: It will not tolerate any diversion of resources meant to benefit Nigeria’s grassroots communities.
Fagbemi also addressed the issue of governors installing loyalists in local government positions. He stressed that this practice has contributed to the mismanagement of public funds, which ultimately harms the people who are meant to benefit from these resources.
Governors, he said, have been strategically placing their supporters in key local government positions, effectively controlling funds meant for local development. This has led to corruption and a lack of accountability in the management of LGA funds.
The AGF noted that the federal government’s efforts to address these issues would continue through legal channels. “While the FG has no authority to interfere in LGA elections, it can prosecute those involved in diverting funds,” he said.
