The Supreme Court has ruled that the Federal Government should henceforth, pay allocations directly to local government councils from the Federation Account.

In a judgment delivered Thursday, a seven-member panel of justices held that state governments have continued to abuse their powers by retaining and using funds meant for LGs.

About two months ago, the Federal Government had instituted a suit marked SC/CV/343/2024 at the Supreme Court asking for full autonomy for the 774 local governments.

In the suit filed by Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, the Federal Government also asked that the apex court to authorise the direct transfer of funds from the Federation Account directly to local government councils’ accounts.