In a landmark judgement delivered last week, the Supreme Court of Nigeria granted financial autonomy to local government areas, declaring it unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds allocated to them.
The apex court addressed a decades-long dispute over financial control, pointing out that state governors have been acting as gatekeepers for local government funds, hindering their ability to function effectively.
The three tiers of government; federal, states, and local governments, share money from the federation account on a monthly basis based on agreed percentages. The fund is being coordinated by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
BusinessDay findings showed that Alimosho Local Government Area in Lagos State, which is the most populous LGA in Nigeria, received the highest FAAC share among the 774 local councils in the country between June 2023 and May 2024.
The findings also revealed that the top nine LGAs with the highest FAAC share during this period are located in Lagos State. The 20 local councils in Lagos are among the top 30.
Here are the top 30 LGAs with the highest FAAC share in the last one year below:
Lagos, Alimosho — ₦18.45bn
Lagos, Ajeromi/Ifelodun — ₦14.44bn
Lagos, Kosofe — ₦14.25bn
Lagos, Mushin — ₦14.05bn
Lagos, Oshodi/Isolo — ₦13.99bn
Lagos, Ojo — ₦13.85bn
Lagos, Ikorodu — ₦13.58bn
Lagos, Surulere — ₦13.24bn
Lagos, Agege — ₦12.96bn
FCT, Abuja Municipal — ₦12.88bn
Lagos, Ifako/Ijaye — ₦12.75bn
Lagos, Somolu — ₦12.56bn
Lagos, Ikeja — ₦12.03bn
Lag, Amuwo-Odofin — ₦12.0bn
Lagos, Eti-Osa — ₦11.98bn
Lagos, Lagos Mainland — ₦11.98bn
Lagos, Badagry — ₦11.61bn
Lagos, Apapa — ₦11.33bn
Lagos, Lagos Island — ₦11.26bn
Lagos, Epe — ₦11.25bn
Lagos, Ibeju-Lekki — ₦10.69bn
FCT, Bwari — ₦9.28bn
FCT, Gwagwalada — ₦8.72bn
FCT, Kwali — ₦8.43bn
FCT, Kuje — ₦8.42bn
FCT, Abaji — ₦8.02bn
Rivers, Port Harcourt — ₦7.79bn
Rivers, Obio/Akpor — ₦7.19bn
Kano, Nassarawa — ₦6.39bn
Bauchi, Bauchi — ₦6.24bn
Source: FAAC/NBS
