The Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the immediate direct payment of monthly statutory allocations to the 27 local government areas of the state, in a move aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and promoting transparency.
The approval was announced on Thursday by the Acting Governor, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, shortly after the swearing-in of newly elected council chairpersons in Maiduguri.
Kadafur said the policy aligns with the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming the financial autonomy of local governments, as well as President Bola Tinubu’s December 2025 directive urging governors to ensure full implementation of the ruling nationwide.
He explained that the reform would eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with the joint account system and empower council chairmen with direct access to funds to execute development projects at the community level.
“You should be accessible to your people and accountable for every naira and kobo you receive,” Kadafur said. “Borno is leading by example.
“This is a credit to Governor Zulum’s commitment to transparency and inclusive governance. The era of local governments complaining about delays in fund approvals is over.”
He added that the state government would regularly publish allocations disbursed to councils to enhance public accountability and citizen oversight.
The acting governor further charged the chairmen to prioritise staff welfare, ensure prompt payment of salaries and entitlements, and focus on projects that directly impact livelihoods.
“You must be guardians of public resources, run programmes in line with our 10-year development strategy and avoid vanity projects,” he said.
“Security, dignity of the people and productivity in the civil service must remain non-negotiable.”
The ceremony was attended by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Tahir Monguno; Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan; the state APC chairman, Bello Ayuba; former deputy governors Ali Abubakar Jatau and Usman Mamman Durkwa, as well as members of the state House of Assembly and other senior government officials.
The development places Borno among states taking concrete steps to implement full financial autonomy for local governments, widely seen as a critical reform for deepening democracy and accelerating development at the grassroots.
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