By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) has called for the immediate end to state governors’ control of constitutionally allocated local government funds, warning that continued interference is undermining grassroots development, accountability, and democratic governance across Nigeria.

In a press release issued in Abuja on February 9, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the organisation urged urgent enforcement of fiscal autonomy for local government councils, aligning its position with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), which it described as Nigeria’s statutory authority on revenue allocation and fiscal federalism.

FENRAD stated that RMAFC has “consistently maintained that Local Government Councils are a constitutionally recognized third tier of government and must operate with full fiscal autonomy to effectively discharge their responsibilities to citizens.”

Citing the commission’s analysis, the group noted that “state interference in local government finances has significantly weakened service delivery, accountability, and democratic governance at the grassroots,” warning that the diversion or joint control of allocations “undermines the constitutional framework, fuels corruption, and stalls rural development.”

According to FENRAD, RMAFC further emphasised that “direct disbursement of funds from the Federation Account to Local Government Councils is essential for transparency, improved governance outcomes, poverty reduction, and the delivery of basic services,” including primary healthcare, education, sanitation, environmental protection, and rural infrastructure.

The organisation also observed that the commission had raised concerns over “continued non-compliance by many state governments despite judicial affirmations,” alongside plans to strengthen monitoring mechanisms for tracking local government revenues and expenditures nationwide.

Highlighting the broader implications, FENRAD warned that “the continued grip of state governors over local government funds has systematically weakened grassroots institutions, denied communities their right to development, and eroded public trust in governance.”

It stressed that “financial autonomy for local governments is a matter of public accountability and human rights, not administrative convenience,” adding that “when funds meant for communities are controlled elsewhere, citizens are deprived of essential services and democratic representation at the local level.”

The group therefore called on state governors to “immediately cease all forms of control, diversion, or interference in local government funds,” while urging the Federal Government to “enforce direct allocation of funds to Local Government Councils in compliance with constitutional and judicial directives.”

FENRAD further urged oversight and anti-corruption agencies to “investigate past and ongoing abuses related to local government finances,” and called on civil society, the media, and citizens to “intensify advocacy and demand transparency and accountability in local governance.”

Reaffirming its position, the organisation declared that “Nigeria’s development cannot be achieved without strong, autonomous, and accountable local governments,” insisting that respecting fiscal independence at the third tier “will strengthen democratic governance, improve service delivery, reduce poverty, and accelerate sustainable development at the grassroots.”

FENRAD added that it “remains committed to promoting transparent governance, environmental justice, human rights protection, and equitable development,” pledging continued engagement to ensure that local government financial autonomy becomes reality nationwide.