By Gordi Udeajah
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (CSO) and the Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) have identified lack of autonomy and weak accountability as key reasons underdevelopment persists at Nigeria’s local government level, despite substantial financial allocations.
The organisations raised concerns over governance, accountability, and service delivery failures at the grassroots, noting that increased funding has not translated into meaningful development.
Their position is contained in a policy brief titled: “Local Government Autonomy and Improved Accountability: A Pathway to Rural Development, Economic Growth, and Democratic Deepening in Nigeria.”
The report was presented to journalists in Umuahia, Abia State capital, by the Executive Director of CCIDESOR, Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, represented by the Administration/Communication Officer of the Abia State branch, Dr. Temple Nwosu.
According to the organisations, the policy brief was issued in response to growing evidence that allocations to local governments are not yielding visible development outcomes, as well as the current opportunity for constitutional reforms to strengthen grassroots governance.
The nine-page document referenced recent observations by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, highlighting what it described as a disconnect between federal allocations to local government areas (LGAs) and actual development outcomes.
It attributed the situation to the absence of true financial, administrative, and political autonomy for LGAs.
Findings from field monitoring and capital project analysis across selected LGAs in the South-East revealed that allocated funds are not translating into visible development, while projects are often limited, poorly prioritised, or misaligned with community needs.
The report also noted that core constitutional responsibilities of local governments—such as primary education, primary healthcare, and agriculture—are largely neglected.
Among the key challenges identified are lack of financial autonomy, weak accountability frameworks, policy suppression, and misplaced development priorities.
The policy brief called for urgent constitutional reforms, particularly the amendment of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, to guarantee full autonomy for local governments and establish a citizen-driven accountability framework.
It recommended that the Federal Government abolish the State–Local Government Joint Account system and ensure direct statutory allocations to LGAs, while strengthening oversight through anti-corruption agencies and a national accountability framework.
The National Assembly was urged to fast-track constitutional amendments, enact laws guaranteeing financial independence for LGAs, mandate public disclosure of budgets and expenditures, and strengthen legislative oversight.
State governments, according to the report, should transition from control to support by ending interference in local government finances, reviewing laws that undermine autonomy, and allowing elected officials to operate independently without undue influence.
The brief also advised local governments to publish budgets and financial reports regularly, prioritise constitutional responsibilities, strengthen internal accountability systems, and engage citizens in participatory budgeting.
It further outlined roles for civil society, the media, and citizens in promoting transparency and accountability. While civil society organisations are expected to intensify monitoring and advocacy, the media was urged to investigate and report on local government spending, amplify citizens’ voices, and promote transparency.
Communities and citizens were encouraged to demand accountability, participate in budget tracking, attend town hall meetings, and report corruption and mismanagement.
On the need for governors to relinquish control over local government funds, the report argued that LGAs are constitutionally recognised as a distinct tier of government and that centralised control undermines democracy and grassroots development.
It maintained that local needs are best addressed at the grassroots level and that direct funding would improve efficiency and responsiveness.
The policy brief concluded that Nigeria is at a critical juncture, warning that the failure of local governance has contributed to rural poverty, poor service delivery, and declining public trust.
“Granting full autonomy to local governments is not just a governance reform; it is a national development imperative. If implemented, it will unlock grassroots development, reduce corruption, strengthen democracy, and improve the quality of life for millions of Nigerians,” the report stated.
It added that with the current political climate, achieving constitutional reform is both urgent and feasible, noting that full local government autonomy could become a defining legacy of the Tinubu administration.
The study covered selected LGAs in three South-East states—Abia, Enugu, and Imo. In Abia State, the LGAs examined include Aba South (urban/commercial), Bende (rural), and Umuahia South (mixed urban-rural).
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