What next for local government administration in Nigeria?

The recent directive purportedly from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) requiring the 774 local governments to present their budget proposals for the 2025 fiscal year has sparked renewed interest in local government autonomy. This development has been long coming, given the prolonged agitation for systemic changes in local government administration.

A 20-year-old university student’s surprise that local governments in Nigeria prepare budgets highlights the widespread lack of awareness about local government operations because of the reality that local governments barely exist on paper in many states. When he asked, “Do local governments actually create budgets?” I explained that, like every tier of government or organisation, they are meant to do so. However, his curiousity clearly illustrates the uncertainty surrounding local government autonomy in Nigeria.

The Supreme Court gave a landmark ruling in favour of local governments in Nigeria on July 11, 2024. The seven-justice panel of the apex court in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim ruled that the 774 local government councils in the country should independently manage their own funds: millions of Nigerians thought the long wait for autonomy was finally over. However, the journey to true autonomy is often complex and winding given the history of the struggle for autonomy for this essential tier of government.

However, the recent directive that led to budget presentations across 774 local governments for the 2025 fiscal year has brought fresh perspective on the agitation and revitalised interest in local government autonomy. But will this directive translate into tangible action, or will it remain mere rhetoric as with many other critical issues in Nigeria? Nigeria’s history of struggling with local government autonomy, coupled with the stiff resistance from state governments,  raises concerns about the feasibility of true autonomy for local governments.

The Nigerian Constitution recognises local governments as a tier of government, but they remain restricted by financial and electoral constraints. Local governments are expected to provide basic services, promote development, and ensure democratic participation. However, their lack of autonomy and financial power has hindered their ability to fulfill these responsibilities.

Nigeria’s experiment with various local government administration models despite so many reforms from the local government reforms of 1976, 1988, and the one embarked upon in this current dispensation, has been marked by a decline in autonomy, particularly since 2003. The state governments’ Interference in local government affairs has degraded their powers and functions.

As someone who has advocated financial and electoral autonomy for local government councils for so many years, I believe that it is crucial for addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, socio-economic issues, and building other sectors that require government’s attention at the grassroots level. The lack of local government autonomy has led to a power vacuum, allowing non-state actors to exert their influence.

Nigerians await the implementation of any meaningful reform that can transform local government administration and bring about positive changes. The question remains: is Nigeria truly ready to empower local governments and bring relief to the millions of rural dwellers who have been neglected for far too long?

For decades, local governments in Nigeria have been suffocated by a lack of funds, rendering them ineffective in initiating or implementing meaningful projects. The joint account system, introduced years ago, has been a subject of controversy, with experts arguing that it undermines true federalism and hampers local government autonomy.

The current state of local government administration in Nigeria is a far cry from the intended vision. The 1999 Constitution, as amended, recognises local governments as a tier of government, but sadly this merely exists on paper today.

There is ample evidence to support the agitation for local government autonomy. It is a necessary step towards addressing societal ills and promoting grassroots development. Another question on everyone’s mind is: what next?

Will the recent directive be mere rhetoric, or will it translate into tangible action? Is Nigeria truly ready to empower local governments and bring relief to the millions of Nigerians who have been neglected for far too long?

Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the status quo is unsustainable. Nigerians await with bated breath the implementation of meaningful reforms that can revamp local government administration and bring about development.

As someone who has consistently advocated financial and electoral autonomy for local government councils, I remain hopeful that this latest development will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s journey towards true federalism and grassroots development. For local government autonomy and administration generally in Nigeria, I ask again what next?