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FAAC Disburses Local Govts’ January Allocation To States As Direct Transfer To CBN Dedicated Accounts Fails

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Statutory monthly allocations will not be directly disbursed to the 774 local governments this month by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

It is due to their inability to meet the deadline for the submission of account details, it was learnt yesterday.

The councils’ January funds would be disbursed through the states, a source said.

However, according to the source, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) would be funded directly from the Federation Account.

FAAC has released N860.252 billion to the state governments for January, out of which N498.498 billion belongs to them and N361.754 billion to the local governments.

A FAAC official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the commission transferred the January allocations to state governments because the councils could not meet the administrative requirements for funds disbursement.

He said: “The January allocation did not go to the local governments but to their state accounts.

“If they have started submitting their accounts, their February allocations will go to them.

“The January allocation has been paid to the state accounts already. That means they didn’t submit their details on time.

“If the councils can move fast and tidy up the loose ends early, they will get their funds directly from next month.

“That will signal the commencement of their autonomy as desired by the Bola Tinubu administration.’’

Another FAAC official said the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) and other stakeholders were working hard to address the delays in fully complying with the apex court judgment.

He said: ‘’I learnt the process of creating accounts is what is holding the process, but the Federal Government is determined to make sure that local government autonomy becomes a reality. I can assure you that things are moving in the right direction.’’

To prevent governors from mismanaging council funds, an Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, is developing a framework to enforce the Supreme Court judgment.

According to the official, the template will authorise the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) to deduct funds meant for primary education, healthcare, and other constitutional responsibilities of local government directly from FAAC allocations and release them to the relevant agencies.

He said: “They (LGAs) have certain obligations like counterpart funding of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) primary schools, health initiatives, and some other responsibilities where they are supposed to contribute a certain portion.

“Eventually, what will happen is that some of these funds will likely be deducted at source and transferred to those respective agencies.”

The OAGF has been collaborating with state governments to assist the LGAs in developing the template aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the disbursement and use of council funds.

Despite the progress being made, the activities of the Akume-led inter-ministerial committee have been slowed down by the ongoing budget defence and other pressing engagements involving key government officials.

The source, however, said technical members of the committee are meeting over the template.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had in May last year instituted a case in the Supreme Court seeking full autonomy for local governments.

He prayed the court to stop governors from unlawful dissolution of democratically elected council officials.

Fagbemi accused governors of abuse of power, urging the apex court to give an order expressly stating that the funds of LGAs from the Federation Account should be paid directly to them rather than through the state governments.

Many of the governors, through their Attorneys-General, contested the suit.

On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to the councils, setting a precedent for grassroots governance.

The ruling aims to curb the undue control over local government funds by governors and ensure transparency and accountability in financial disbursements.

To implement the judgment, the Federal Government directed all local governments to open dedicated bank accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the direct transfer of their monthly allocations.

The directive was to bypass state governments entirely and place financial resources under the management of local governments.

Last week, Bello Lawal Yandaki, national president of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), assured stakeholders that there was no cause for alarm over the failure of the councils to open the accounts.

He attributed the delay to procedural issues on the part of the LGAs.

“The CBN is presently awaiting directives from the Federal Government to open local government accounts for the respective states, which can be done within 24 to 48 hours for each,” Yandaki added.

He said once the accounts are fully operational and the necessary details submitted, the disbursement would proceed without further delay.

 

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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

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The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

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Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

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