Anambra, FCT Among 16 States That Failed to Generate Local Government Revenue in 2023, NBS Report Shows

In a revealing report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), only 20 of Nigeria’s 36 states generated revenue from local governments in 2023, while 16 states, alongside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), recorded no revenue from these sources throughout the year.

The NBS report highlights that Rivers, Delta, Kano, Anambra, Enugu, and Katsina were among the states that saw no local government revenue contributions in 2023. This list includes four states—Katsina, Benue, Sokoto, and Adamawa—that failed to report any local government revenue for a second consecutive year.

The data has amplified calls for stronger local government autonomy, with advocates pointing to the vital role of councils in addressing grassroots issues and delivering essential services to communities. Experts argue that inadequate local government funding directly impacts community development, hampering progress and limiting effective service delivery across the country.

In a landmark decision this past July, the Supreme Court ruled that funds allocated to local governments must bypass state control, going directly from the federation account to local councils. The ruling is widely seen as a push for financial autonomy for Nigeria’s local governments, allowing them greater independence in revenue generation and spending.

Despite this development, the NBS report indicates that the 20 states reporting local government revenue collectively raised N37.05 billion in 2023, a significant drop from the N48.7 billion generated by 29 states in 2022. Among those with reported revenue, Lagos led with N10.49 billion, followed by Ebonyi at N6.13 billion.

Below is the list of 20 states and the corresponding revenue generated from local governments in 2023:

Lagos: N10.49 billion

Ebonyi: N6.13 billion

Kwara: N3.35 billion

Oyo: N3.11 billion

Jigawa: N2.89 billion

Edo: N2.59 billion

Gombe: N2.09 billion

Ondo: N1.39 billion

Ogun: N1.31 billion

Cross River: N701.34 million

Taraba: N441 million

Kaduna: N382.22 million

Akwa Ibom: N343.18 million

Abia: N341.74 million

Ekiti: N303.65 million

Kogi: N289.73 million

Bauchi: N250.37 million

Imo: N215.34 million

Borno: N213.12 million

Osun: N204.42 million

While Lagos and Ebonyi led with the highest figures, states like Osun, Borno, and Imo contributed more modest amounts, with Osun reporting the lowest at N204.42 million.