The South-West received the largest share of the N281.47 billion Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations to local government areas last month, analysis of the disbursement shows.

The zone with a total of 137 local government areas got N63.95 billion or 22.72 per cent of the entire sum.

The South-West was closely followed by the North-West with 186 local government areas. The zone got N62.78 billion or 22.3 per cent.

The South-South, the oil-rich region with 123 local government areas, came third collecting N44.52 billion, which translates to 15.82 per cent of the total sum.

The North-Central, with 115 local government areas received N38.11 billion or 13.54 per cent while the North East with 112 local government areas got N37.87 billion, representing 13.45 per cent.

The South-East with the least number of local government areas (95), also received the least amount during the period, the zone got N30.62 billion, representing 10.88 per cent.

On a state-by-state analysis, Lagos State with 20 local government areas received the highest allocation of N26.93 billion, followed by Kano State with N15.36 billion for its 44 local government areas.

Rivers State with 23 local government areas took the number three position, receiving the sum of N12.37 billion.

The three states with the least allocations to their local government areas were Bayelsa with eight LGAs (N3.66 billion), Gombe with 11 LGAs (N3.95 billion) and Nasarawa with 13 LGAs (N4.27 billion).

Before the recent Supreme Court judgment, local government allocations were paid into their respective state consolidated revenue accounts.

The judgment by the Supreme Court means the local governments can now receive their allocations directly.

This judgment has been hailed by many citizens who believe that the local government areas, which are closer to the people have been incapacitated financially, a reason they no longer perform their constructional role.

This judgment has also called for greater scrutiny of the local government areas to ensure accountability and transparency in their spending of the funds.

At a recent policy dialogue on Enthroning Accountability in Local Governance in Nigeria organised by Agora Policy in partnership with Yaga Africa, MacArthur Foundation Budgit, Premium Times and TheCable, participants highlighted the need for competent hands to handle the leadership in local government areas to prevent the councils from collapsing into mere 774 sharing points.

They said most of the people elected to offices either as chairmen or counsellors do not understand what they are elected to do.

They also said this is the time for citizens to begin to ask their leaders at the local government level questions if accountability is to be ensured. (The Guardian)