A call has gone to community leaders, political leaders, traditional leaders, stakeholders at the grassroot level, and concerned Nigerians on the need to champion a citizen-led reform of Nigeria’s local government system.
A Director at the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr. Sam Amadi, alongside other public affairs analysts and stakeholders’ in the civil society organisation (CSOs) re-ignited the call in at a dialogue in Abuja on Friday, where they proffered practical steps toward strengthening governance at the grassroots.
The national dialogue, which bordered on local government autonomy was convened by a non governmental organization, “The change we need Nigeria initiative” led by the General Overseer of the Charismatic Renewal Ministries and Deputy President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Dr Cosmas Ilechukwu.
While giving a keynote address on the theme, “Making Local Government Autonomy Work for the People,” , Amadi argued that while the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy he noted has reignited a national debate, saying the focus must shift from legal reforms to rebuilding civic accountability and democratic participation at the local level.
He said, “We are not going to use law and constitution to do what human beings should do. Citizens must hold those in their closest political spaces accountable. The character of governance at the local level reflects our collective abdication of responsibility,”
Amadi described the Supreme Court judgment as constitutionally questionable, given that the 1999 Constitution embeds local governments under state legislative authority.
“The Supreme Court probably got it politically right but constitutionally wrong. Local governments are supposed to be democratically elected, but they are also constitutionally embedded under state authority. That contradiction has made autonomy practically incoherent, “he said.
Amadi while speaking further said with local areas “ungoverned,” insecurity, unemployment, and infrastructure decay have worsened, explaining that, “If we had effective governance at the local level, with real executive presence, policing, and job creation, we would not have so many ungoverned spaces and criminal enclaves”.
The convener of the national dialogue forum, Dr Ilechukwu in his contributions reminded that local government is the tier of government closest to the people and most essential for everyday development, from clean water and functioning schools to organized markets and community infrastructure.
He said despite the fact that the recent apex court’s ruling was favourable the and a welcome development, real progress he said depends on the political will of leaders at both the federal and state levels to implement it.
Nigeria according to him can only achieve meaningful change when local councils are allowed to operate independently and effectively.
Mr. Kolawole Banwo, Head of Advocacy, Policy and Communications, Water Aids, while giving an insight, noted that joint state–local-government accounts and excessive control by governors have crippled the financial independence of local councils.
He then called for reforms that would guarantee democratically elected councils, secure four-year tenures, and direct access to federal allocations in line with the Supreme Court judgement.
The national organizing secretary of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Mr. Olamisoji Tolulope, who also delivered a speech at the event, said if the local government autonomy is fully implemented, all the challenges facing people at the grassroots will be addressed.
Tolulope, who represented the president general of the union, Comrade Aliyu Kankara, recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should take up the responsibility of conducting local government elections.
