LGs to receive direct allocation at end of January -FAAC

• All obstacles cleared

Curiosity of whether there is any last-minute change of plan on LGA councils receiving direct allocation from the Federation Account this month.

But the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has reaffirmed the direct disbursement of this month’s allocation to the third tiers of government.

“The direct receipt from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) will end the delay in the implementation of the July 11 judgment of the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to councils”, the statement urged.

However, since the judgment was delivered, the Federal Government has been making an effort to ensure minimal disruption to state/local government operations.

The umbilical cord of the state/local government joint account into which council allocations are paid has been difficult to break because of subtle resistance by governors, many of who are displeased with the Supreme Court judgment.

A member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee established to enforce the Supreme Court judgment told our correspondent that approval has been given for the direct FAAC allocations to LGAs from January after all the issues were laid to rest.

According to the source, though some councils have been collecting their allocation directly, the process will be fully operational by the end of January.

Meanwhile, the committee member declined a request to name the councils that have been receiving direct allocations.

The source said: “A few LGAs have already started receiving their direct allocations but all of the 774 LGAs will fully start receiving their allocations from January 2025.