BREAKING: Senate grants total autonomy to 774 Local Governments

The Senate of Nigeria Tuesday voted to amend the 1999 Constitution to give financial and administrative autonomy to the Local Governments across the federation.

With this amendment, the 774 local governments have become independent of the states and attained their full status as the third tier of government in Nigeria.

Senators voted separately to grant financial and administrative autonomy to the third tier of government that had remained attached to the apron strings of not just the state governments but governors.

A total of 92 senators voted ‘Yes’ for financial autonomy for the local governments while two voted ‘No’ with none absenting. The number of senators who registered in the electronic voting exercise was 94.

In granting administrative autonomy to the local governments, 92 senators voted. While 88 voted ‘Yes’, four voted ‘No’ with no abstention.

Details shortly…