By Chukwudi Obasi, Abuja
Yesterday, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum backed local government councils’ administrative and financial autonomy.
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, chairman of the Forum and Governor of Kwara State, said this at the National Dialogue on Local Government and Constitution Amendment, Which Was organised by the House Committee on the Review of the Constitution in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and supported by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).
He said that today, the majority of states have duly elected local government councils in place, reflecting a strengthening commitment to democracy at a grassroots level.
Represented by the Forum’s Director of Legal Services, Chijioke Chukwu, he said the NGF recognises the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy as a landmark development with profound implications for governance.
He said autonomy presents an opportunity to deepen service delivery across critical sectors, particularly health, care, education, and other social services.
He said by empowering local governments to manage resources effectively, we can collectively ensure that development chooses every Nigerian, no matter how remote their community may be.
“The Governor’s Forum is committed to effectively implementing local government autonomy. The governors are keen to collaborate with stakeholders, including development partners, civil society, and other arms of government, to translate this autonomy into tangible improvements in the lives of our people.
“We believe that a well-structured autonomy with a mutually aligned implementation framework would drive accountability and efficiency in resource management and catalyze sustainable development goals at the sub-national level. Together, we can transform the local government system into a vibrant vehicle for economic growth, social development, and national integration.
“The Nigerian Governors Forum also reiterates its readiness to ensure this transition to local government autonomy is impactful. Let us continue to work together to build a stronger, more inclusive Nigeria,” he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, described the conduct of local government elections in the country as disgraceful and said it must be addressed.
He said, “Importantly, we must confront the disgraceful poor conduct of elections in the councils. We must find a way of instilling transparency, fairness, and openness in the conduct of elections in local governments. Doing this would require the understanding and collaborative efforts of the State governors and Houses of Assembly.
“We must find a way of convincing them that a strengthened local government system would relieve the States of unnecessary burdens and lead to grassroots development.”
Abbas, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, said the national dialogue was one in a series of consultations to harness citizens’ views and preferences to achieve a true people’s constitution in the country.
He said it serves as a vital opportunity for substantive discussions that will inform the Constitution Review Committee in making appropriate recommendations for amending the necessary provisions.
Abbas said this is essential to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s existing ruling regarding the status of local government councils.
He said it focuses on a critical aspect of our governance structure: the local government system.
Abbas said local governments, the closest tier of government to the people, play an essential role in delivering services, fostering community development, and ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard at all levels of governance.
He said, however, that for local governments to fulfil these roles effectively, they must operate with a degree of autonomy that allows them to respond promptly and appropriately to their communities’ unique needs.
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, said the dialogue was intended to discuss a critical aspect of governance and reaffirm their collective commitment to advancing democratic principles and sustainable development at the grassroots level.
Kalu, the Chairman of the Committee on the Review of the Constitution, also reiterated that as the closest tier of government to our citizens, local governments are pivotal in ensuring the delivery of essential services, inclusion, and enhancing democratic participation.
Represented by the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, he regretted that the current state of local government councils and areas in Nigeria leaves much to be desired.
Adebo Ogundoyin, chairman of the Conference of Speakers and State Legislatures, said the issue of local governments’ independence and autonomy is at the heart of grassroots governance and development in Nigeria.
Ogundoyin, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, was represented by Haruna Aliyu, the Speaker of the Jigawa House of Assembly.
Director of Development, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Cynthia Rowe, said local governments bring governance closer to the people and have a real impact on their lives.
She stressed the need for a proper local government system to benefit citizens.
