*20 local government areas, as listed in the First Schedule, Part I of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The list is constitutional, not administrative: a state may create development areas, but only an alteration of the Constitution can create a local government that draws from the Federation Account. Section 162(5)–(8) routes each council's share through a State Joint Local Government Account controlled by the state government — the arrangement the Supreme Court ruled against in Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Ors (11 July 2024), holding that allocations must go directly to democratically elected councils.*
The 20 councils#
- Alkaleri
- Bauchi
- Bogoro
- Damban
- Darazo
- Dass
- Gamawa
- Ganjuwa
- Giade
- Itas/Gadau
- Jama'are
- Katagum
- Kirfi
- Misau
- Ningi
- Shira
- Tafawa Balewa
- Toro
- Warji
- Zaki
Notes on the roster#
20 LGAs. Toro is one of the largest LGAs in Nigeria by land area — larger than several entire states of comparable population.
References
Sources#
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), First Schedule Part I
- INEC local government delimitation register
- Supreme Court of Nigeria, SC/CV/343/2024, judgment of 11 July 2024 (local government financial autonomy)