THE Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), have been in a jubilant mood since Thursday July 11, 2024, when the Supreme Court ruling granted full financial autonomy to local councils in Nigeria.
The judgement put to end the protracted battle which began over a decade in favour of the local governments. The 774 local governments across the country will now enjoy their full independence from state governments. This is really a welcome development to council authorities that will now tackle their issues directly to promote development at the grassroots.
This ruling which portrayed a democratic decentralization will now solidify the independence of the local governments in the country, and help to contribute largely in promoting significant milestones in grassroots and rural growth.
More so, it will reduce the friction and political interference by Federal, state governments into local governments’ management, especially when the apex court ruling stopped the state governors from dissolving elected local government council leaders. This is the first in Nigerian political history that the three tiers of governments would be working independently.
Furthermore, the onus is now on the elected chairmen across the country to focus on providing essential services such as better healthcare delivery system by building and equipping health facilities, education, environmental sanitation to fight possible epidemics, infrastructural development, create employment, improved security and generally deliver democratic dividends to the rural population without depending on state governments.
The local governments can also join in the fight in solving security challenges within their localities which are, in most cases, a breeding ground for many security breaches across the country. In this regard, there is a need for local government authorities to work with the Divisional Police Officers, other security agencies and also engage in community policing to fight insecurity.
With the increase in federal government allocations and revenue generation, local governments will be able to beef up security in almost all the local government areas to fight against insecurity which have bedeviled the country for more than a decade.
Moreover, this could also be a starting point to fight food insecurity thereby boosting food production locally. This could be enhanced by giving out grants to local farmers to boost agricultural produce. Some of the grants given by state governments are not getting to the grassroots, but with this autonomy, it will go round as the governments are now closer to their doorsteps.
Engaging in massive food production by subsidizing fertilizers, farm implements and seedlings will go a long way to boost agriculture and food production in the country. It is worth noting that financial autonomy is not a gateway to corruption. Local Government authorities must endeavor to pay their workers and pensioners as at when due. If the ruling has stopped the state government interference, it does not stop security agencies in keeping the local government authorities on their watch-list in case of embezzlement and financial misappropriation.
Remember that EFCC and other anti-graft agencies who are fighting to reduce corruption to the barest minimum are ready to pounce on any erring political office holders.
The council chairmen should take note that the financial autonomy is not a gateway to corruption, but endeavour to embrace financial prudence in their activities and pay their workers and pensioners as at when due. If this ruling stopped the state governments’ interference, it does not stop security agencies in charge of fighting corruption from keeping eyes on the local government authorities in case of embezzlement and financial misappropriation.
The umbrella of corruption that shielded some powerful corrupt political leaders from prosecution may not be able to shield local government chairmen in this present dispensation.
I, therefore, urge the local government authorities nationwide to transparently work hard to justify the autonomy granted by the apex court for the general good of all.
