A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned a suit filed by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) against the federal and state governments seeking assertion of their autonomy till May 29, 2025.

The fresh suit, which was scheduled for April 14 for mention before Justice Inyang Ekwo, could not proceed because the court did not sit. The the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/353/2025, with the Registered Trustees of ALGON as plaintiff was however, fixed for May 29 for mention.

It would be recalled that, the Supreme Court had, in a unanimous judgment delivered on July 11, 2024, granted financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country. ALGON, however, filed the suit following alleged failure by the state governments to comply with the judgment of the apex court. The association joined the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice and the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) and 23 others in the suit.

ALGON, in the case, demands that the 774 local government areas be granted representation at the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings where allocations are discussed. The group contends that while the Supreme Court’s judgment intends to liberate the local government administration, the AGF, Ministry of Finance, state’s Commissioners of Finance and CBN had taken precipitate action to frustrate the implementation of the decision.