Youth Coalition Demands Immediate Local Government Autonomy in Kogi
A powerful coalition of youth organizations and civil society groups from Kogi State has delivered a stern 21-day ultimatum to the state government, demanding concrete action toward implementing full local government autonomy as mandated by constitutional provisions.
The alliance, spearheaded by the influential Igala Youth Council Worldwide, made their position clear during a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday. During the event, the coalition presented a comprehensive review of allocation figures for three specific local government areas: Dekina, Yagba East, and Adavi, covering the period of 2024 and part of 2025.
Financial Discrepancies Revealed in Allocation Analysis
Onogu Collins, President-General of the Igala Youth Council Worldwide, highlighted that their examination of publicly available records uncovered significant gaps between allocations received and salary expenditures across the local government councils. Collins emphasized that these findings necessitate immediate clarification and enhanced oversight mechanisms.
The youth leader referenced the landmark July 11, 2024 Supreme Court ruling that declared the longstanding practice of routing local government funds through state governments as unconstitutional. The court explicitly mandated that local governments must receive their allocations directly from the Federation Account.
Federal Response and Implementation Delays
Following the Supreme Court decision, the Federal Government established an inter-agency panel to oversee the implementation of the ruling. The government also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to open individual accounts for each of the 774 local government councils nationwide to facilitate direct disbursements.
However, the coalition expressed deep concern that the process remains largely unimplemented in Kogi State, despite these federal directives and the clear judicial mandate.
Collins clarified that the organizations are not making allegations but rather calling for greater transparency to strengthen grassroots governance. The 21-day ultimatum represents a critical window for the state government to demonstrate genuine commitment to constitutional compliance and accountable governance at the local level.
