President Bola Tinubu’s administration has taken a bold step by instituting a case at the Supreme Court against the 36 states, seeking to reform the local government system in Nigeria. The Nigerian constitution establishes three tiers of government – federal, state, and local – and three arms of government – executive, legislature, and judiciary – each intended to operate with some level of autonomy.
However, since the power to conduct local government elections was transferred from the federal to the state level and a joint account granted with state having significant control about twenty years ago, state governors have effectively emasculated the third tier of government.
Despite efforts by previous administrations to address this anomaly, the abuse of the local government system has persisted. But with the current administration’s courageous pursuit of judicial intervention, there is new hope for local government autonomy.
While the President is unlikely to get an outright judgment granting LG autonomy, his move is likely to result in a consequential judgment that’ll restrict the usual frustration of the amendment of the constitution to reflect full autonomy by state governors through state houses of assembly. And unlike previous attempts, this move has a higher chance of success, given the President’s understanding of democratic institutions.
Ostensibly, local governments autonomy has the potential to revolutionize Nigeria’s development landscape. By empowering local governments with resources, the administration can reduce Nigerians overreliance on the federal government and unlock grassroots growth and development. Imagine the impact of development at the grassroots if each of the 774 LGs receive ₦200 million in statutory allocation every month, supplemented by federal and state interventions.
Currently, the federal government bears the brunt of responsibility for almost every issue, while state governments, which control significant resources, often shift responsibility. This has led to a lack of accountability and ineffective governance at the grassroots level. But with functional LG system, federal and state programmes can be implemented with ease at the grassroots level.
Similarly, by allowing LGs access to resources, the administration can ensure development is tailored to the unique needs of each local community. Local government autonomy is a crucial step towards true federalism, grassroots development, and a brighter future for all.
This reform has the potential to be President Tinubu’s most significant achievement, endearing him to Nigerians even more.
Nevertheless, while concerns about possible federal government influence over local governments are valid, Nigeria’s political system will ensure that even with the financial autonomy, local governments will not enjoy political autonomy. Council legislatures and party structures will keep LG chairmen in check, preventing them from unnecessarily challenging state governors.
As the country navigates the complexities of development, local government autonomy is a crucial step towards a more prosperous and equitable Nigeria.
-Inyali Peter, Ph.D
