A Federal High Court, Uyo, has declined to grant a request of the Akwa Ibom State Government to stop the implementation of the guidelines on local government funds issued recently by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the NFIU on May 6 issued the ‘Guidelines to Reduce Vulnerabilities Created by Cash Withdrawals from Local Government Funds throughout Nigeria.’

The guideline mandates that state and local government joint accounts be operated solely as transit accounts from which funds will be distributed directly to the accounts of the local governments.

Banks were directed to ensure the full implementation of the guidelines with effect from June 1.

The guideline will, in effect, ensure that the common practice of governors having sole authority over monies meant for local governments is stopped.

Governors have vowed to stop the guidelines from being implemented and have written to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.

The president is yet to comment on the matter.

In reaction to the directive, all the local governments in Akwa Ibom State, alongside the state government through the attorney-general of the state, approached the Uyo Division of the Federal High Court seeking to nullify the guidelines.

The suit filed against the NFIU has the reference number FHC/UY/CS/88/2019.

The plaintiffs, who were represented by the state’s attorney-general, Uwem Nwoko, also urged the court to grant a restraining order against the NFIU stopping the commencement of the guidelines on June 1.

On Friday, Arthur Obi-Okafor, who represented the NFIU, challenged the right of the plaintiffs to file the suit. He urged the court not to grant any order “in favour of persons who are nothing but busybodies.”

He informed the court that the matter is of grave national security concern and that the urgency raised by the plaintiffs is self-induced since the guidelines were released on May 6.

The judge, A. Okeke, refused to grant the restraining order and adjourned the matter to June 21.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/332724-lg-funds-amidst-complaint-by-governors-court-refuses-to-stop-nfiu-directive.html

Good development! The excesses of these emperior governors must be contained.

This is a pleasant surprise. I cant wait to see this make it's way to supreme court.

nice one from NFIU, I can see here that this is financial autonomy for all the local governments.

This is a welcome development but there should be a supervising body to monitor the way and manner the LG chairmen make use of the funds because majority of them are touts and reckless squandermaniacs who were compensated with that position because of their services to a god father.

Most have never owned a business or worked in a place where they handled legit responsibilities let alone having a vague idea of management.

I keep wondering if it's possible to redeem this country and how.

We dey wait.

What concerns governors with local government money if not to divert it.

The FG should also regulate the usage of state funds then. Greedy politicians. Not until more concentration is given to the local government. The nation goes nowhere. The chairman & councilor are closer to the people.

Good!

Next level

Udomm you dey fall hands shaa, weytin u d fight, this is something you cannot stop.
Truth is Since he was the one that wrote the name pf all the LGA chairmen, they are all puppets, and its a shame, n despicable thing seeing them fight something this progressive

The law will bankrupt many states as many already see part of the funds as theirs and it's included in their budget

It's the FG to be blamed along.

It's like putting the food of 2 dogs in a single bow, boerboel and a Pekingese together.

You just have to pity the Pekingese

Its a welcome development we the good citizens of Nigeria are pleased with NFIU

The greedy governors are not happy!

GeneralPula:
The greedy governors are not happy!

Dottore:
This is a welcome development but there should be a supervising body to monitor the way and manner the LG chairmen make use of the funds because majority of them are touts and reckless squandermaniacs who were compensated with that position because of their services to a God Father.

My fears exactly because their spending habit is not different from that of the governors.

The painful thing is that the local government chairmen will now become atms for governors. Some wicked governors like Ortom will direct the LG chairmen to remit 60% of their allocation to him. Anyone who doesn't comply will be fired. Full autonomy for LGs is the way forward, where INEC will conduct local government elections. But then, all the senators have their own share from this local government allocation too so who will pass such a bill.
This Nigeria ba. Our issues plenty. Sometimes I agree with Amaechi.

Time has come to clip the wings of the Governor.Local government chairmen are independent of governors in their respectives states.Enough of daylight robbery.

Unfortunately, the same people who were disturbing our ears shouting restructuring, autonomy of the federating units and resources control, are now the once running round to stop this.This is even a small testing of the same restructuring and resources control, alas! What do we actually want in this country?

for the first time in 4years i can say that buhari has done something tangible that will positively touch the lives of the average man.
as for those fraudulent/criminal governors like udom emmanue who took this case to court i advice the EFCC to keep a close watch cos akwa ibomites are suffering in silence despite d huge allocations receive monthly

Local government chairmen should be held resposible by EFCC for any misappropriation of Federal allocation under their management.

Oh

bbyby01:
The painful thing is that the local government chairmen will now become atms for governors. Some wicked governors like Ortom will direct the LG chairmen to remit 60% of their allocation to him. Anyone who doesn't comply will be fired. Full autonomy for LGs is the way forward, where INEC will conduct local government elections. But then, all the senators have their own share from this local government allocation too so who will pass such a bill.
This Nigeria ba. Our issues plenty. Sometimes I agree with Amaechi.

I Just de laugh when folks de celebrate NFIU thing shebi dis matter go reach Supreme Court...by constitution NFIU negates what is in 1999 constitution...so we need full autonomy like u said..if d governors can still remove a lga chairman or woman den NFIU makes no difference

...

bbyby01:
The painful thing is that the local government chairmen will now become atms for governors. Some wicked governors like Ortom will direct the LG chairmen to remit 60% of their allocation to him. Anyone who doesn't comply will be fired. Full autonomy for LGs is the way forward, where INEC will conduct local government elections. But then, all the senators have their own share from this local government allocation too so who will pass such a bill.
This Nigeria ba. Our issues plenty. Sometimes I agree with Amaechi.

Maximum daily withdrawal is 500k.

The governor can remove those appointmented not those elected beside the big fish here is the efcc been able to clamp done On any local government chairman that those the governor bidding and waiting for the thief when his tenure and immunity expires. To me it's a welcome development

Buhari is who you Ipob need to be pleased with.

Lamasta:
Its a welcome development we the good citizens of Nigeria are pleased with NFIU

Johnnyessence:
nice one from NFIU, I can see here that this is financial autonomy for all the local governments.

Dottore:
This is a welcome development but there should be a supervising body to monitor the way and manner the LG chairmen make use of the funds because majority of them are touts and reckless squandermaniacs who were compensated with that position because of their services to a god father.

Most have never owned a business or worked in a place where they handled legit responsibilities let alone having a vague idea of management.

I keep wondering if it's possible to redeem this country and how.

Well, it's quite simple,..... let the people put responsible people in their environment in public offices at the grassroots. At least they won't have to go too far to complain if there are issues of governance and accountability