Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the immediate commencement of direct payment of monthly statutory allocations to the state’s 27 local government areas.
The approval was announced on Thursday night by the Acting Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur, after presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected local government chairpersons in Maiduguri.
Kadafur said the decision followed the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy as well as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive issued in December 2025 to state governors.
He explained that the policy is aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and improving governance at the grassroots.
According to him, the directive will empower council chairmen by granting them direct access to their statutory funds, thereby eliminating bureaucratic delays in fund disbursement.
“You should be accessible to your people, and you know our governor is dedicated to developing our state,” Kadafur told the chairpersons.
“We are looking up to you at the grassroots to ensure transparency and accountability for every naira and kobo you receive.”
He noted that Borno is leading by example in implementing local government autonomy, describing the policy as a reflection of Governor Zulum’s commitment to transparency and good governance.
“The era of local governments complaining about bureaucracy in approving funds is over. The governor believes in the local government administrative process,” he said, adding that allocations to local governments would be published regularly to ensure public accountability.
Kadafur also charged the chairpersons to prioritize the welfare of local government workers, ensure prompt payment of salaries and entitlements, and align all projects with the state’s 10-year development strategy.
“There will be no more vanity projects. Timely payment of salaries is non-negotiable,” he warned.
He further directed that discipline and productivity be restored across local government councils, stressing that workers must report promptly to their duty posts.
