The bold step taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of going to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to confirm – if, or not, state governments have the right to have direct access and control of funding that is due to Local Governments Administrations (LGAs). It is trite in law, that local governments are supposed to be credited worth funding directly from the Federation Account. But for over 40 years since the second republic, Governors have been taking the funding allocations on behalf of the local government administrations, which in my opinion is a violation of Section 7 and other relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Surely, the suit instituted by Mr. President will settle this Constitutional logjam/lacuna, and clear the way for accelerated growth and development and the grassroots of Nigeria.
It is instructive to note that President Tinubu is living up to his campaign promises as outlined in his Renewed Hope campaign Manifesto build-up to the 2023 presidential elections. In Page 69 of the manifesto, Mr. President promised to, “Embark on a review of the federation revenue allocation system to recalibrate the division of funds amongst the three tiers of Government: Federal, State and Local. More funds should be allocated to the States and Local Governments so that they can better address local concerns and fulfill their expanded constitutional obligations to the people……. This promotes stronger governance at the state and local levels, thus reducing political congestion and competition for resources at the federal level. The performance of federal, state, and local governments shall improve while the people will benefit by having more political democracy and economic development more closely at hand.”
It is also timely, that recently, the 10th National Assembly has commenced the process of the amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as they are deliberating on about 44 Bills which will include; devolution of powers, state police, local government autonomy, transition to parliamentary system, etc.
Taking development closer to the people
It is worthy of note that according to the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the current revenue-sharing formula is as follows: The Federal Government takes 52.68 % of the revenue share, states get 26.72 %, while local governments get 20.6 %. So far, Governors have taken 46.78%, i.e. 26.72% + 20.6% – with no commensurate tangible impacts to show for the masses of Nigeria, i.e. the grassroots.
A very worrisome situation in Nigeria is the lack of deepening commitments and impacts at grassroots levels where the majority of Nigeria reside and live.
A good example of the importance of the role of local governments is that local governments remain the critical platforms for our Agricultural value chain and its socio-economic contributions. There is currently no active development process flow between the Federal Government interventions and direct local government initiatives.
The acceleration of the provision of basic infrastructure like pipe-borne water, basic roads, waterways, culverts, etc. has eluded our people at the local governments and hinterlands due to a lack of direct funding to our local governments. Therefore, we must ensure effective financial and operational autonomy at our local government levels, going forward.
I am very glad to hear that the perennial issue of undercutting or stifling the cash flow of local govern The bold step taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of going to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to confirm – if, or not, state governments have the right to have direct access and control of funding that is due to Local Governments Administrations (LGAs). It is trite in law, that local governments are supposed to be credited worth funding directly from the Federation Account. But for over 40 years since the second republic, Governors have been taking the funding allocations on behalf of the local government administrations, which in my opinion is a violation of Section 7 and other relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Surely, the suit instituted by Mr. President will settle this Constitutional logjam/lacuna, and clear the way for accelerated growth and development and the grassroots of Nigeria.
It is instructive to note that President Tinubu is living up to his campaign promises as outlined in his Renewed Hope campaign Manifesto build-up to the 2023 presidential elections. In Page 69 of the manifesto, Mr. President promised to, “Embark on a review of the federation revenue allocation system to recalibrate the division of funds amongst the three tiers of Government: Federal, State and Local. More funds should be allocated to the States and Local Governments so that they can better address local concerns and fulfill their expanded constitutional obligations to the people……. This promotes stronger governance at the state and local levels, thus reducing political congestion and competition for resources at the federal level. The performance of federal, state, and local governments shall improve while the people will benefit by having more political democracy and economic development more closely at hand.”
It is also timely, that recently, the 10th National Assembly has commenced the process of the amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as they are deliberating on about 44 Bills which will include; devolution of powers, state police, local government autonomy, transition to parliamentary system, etc.
Taking development closer to the people
It is worthy of note that according to the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the current revenue-sharing formula is as follows: The Federal Government takes 52.68 % of the revenue share, states get 26.72 %, while local governments get 20.6 %. So far, Governors have taken 46.78%, i.e. 26.72% + 20.6% – with no commensurate tangible impacts to show for the masses of Nigeria, i.e. the grassroots.
A very worrisome situation in Nigeria is the lack of deepening commitments and impacts at grassroots levels where the majority of Nigeria reside and live.
A good example of the importance of the role of local governments is that local governments remain the critical platforms for our Agricultural value chain and its socio-economic contributions. There is currently no active development process flow between the Federal Government interventions and direct local government initiatives.
The acceleration of the provision of basic infrastructure like pipe-borne water, basic roads, waterways, culverts, etc. has eluded our people at the local governments and hinterlands due to a lack of direct funding to our local governments. Therefore, we must ensure effective financial and operational autonomy at our local government levels, going forward.
I am very glad to hear that the perennial issue of undercutting or stifling the cash flow of local government administrations in Nigeria will come to an end soon. Because this has been one of the key banes of the progress of this Country. For over 40 years, the State Governors have been holding the local government administrations hostage, and rendering them at the beck and call of the Governors. Suffice it to say that the refusal of successive state administrations from the 2nd republic to date to allow the autonomy of local governments as enshrined in Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which recognizes: “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils.” is a testament to the hypocrisy of our expectations as a nation.
The sustained choke-hold of the Local Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by State Governors is not just for the control of the financial inflows of the LGA, but also to ensure continuous political control of the local government areas to perpetuate their control of the political structures of the local government areas for political supremacy, while and after leaving office as governors. The choke-holds on the LGAs have further stunted the growth of local government areas across Nigeria, and more importantly the assurances of good governance. Over time, the local Government administrations have become voiceless, powerless, and almost useless. The local government management and operations have been almost comatose, and therefore, they have not been able to add tangible values to our political evolution. The LGAs are mere appendages of the State Governors, while their offices are more or less liaison offices of the Governors. That is why the local government chairmen/ sole administrators sit out their tenures without making any impacts on the communities.
Due to the aforementioned reasons, there is so much opaqueness in the administration of local government administrations in Nigeria. Most of the local government chairmen also end up helping themselves from the remnant of funds credited to the coffers of the local government – that is what bad leadership at the top does – i.e., “when the head is rotten the body subsequently rots away. In the end, the citizens of Nigeria are systematically and consistently short-changed. Consequently, year-on-year we do not see any serious developments taking place at local government levels; rather, what we see are multi-dimensional retrogression and poverty.
Indeed, a visit to local government headquarters around Nigeria will evidence how bad things are; the offices are shadows of themselves, the operations are comatose and there are basically no serious structures for people to lean unto in demanding the delivery of good governance. Therefore, I am very happy to hear that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready to deliver one of his campaign promises to ensure that local governments do not just get autonomy on paper, but that the autonomy is actualized and made fully operational.
Furthermore, one of the key reasons why we do not witness major and tangible developments at state levels is because the inactivates at local governments are due to undue interference by the state Governors to the extent that, it is only the local governments that are of interest to the Governors that experience of measure of development.
It is an established fact that “politics is local”. That is why everywhere democracy has thrived, and everywhere leadership has been effective and impactful; it is because the local governments are autonomous and fully operational – across the three arms of government at that level, i.e. Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. It is because politics is local and where the votes are garnered to ultimately achieve political success, which is the reason why the grassroots should not be abandoned after campaigns and elections. The people at grassroots levels MUST be catered for, if we want this Country to make any form of progress, and the only way growth and socio-economic development can be achieved at grassroots levels is to eliminate poverty and strife by fully operationalizing the independence of local government.
Sadly, most of the projects we see at state levels are around the State capitals with a lot of “white elephant” projects situated at the local government levels. This is why most of the Counsellors are almost non-existent but by title and by the little “change” and “crumbs” they pick out of whatever remains from the “financial leftovers” that trickle to their pockets from the coffers of the local government administration.
However, just operationalizing the local government administrations and giving them full autonomy is not enough to ensure the delivery of good governance at the grassroots level. Citizens should also actively demand for good governance from Governors and local government administrations – to put the local government chairmen on their toes so that they do not feel entitled and take things for granted.
We look forward to successful legislation to further activate and operationalize the provisions of the 1999 Constitution regarding the autonomy of Local Government systems, and the successful execution of the laws especially the role that the Supreme Court will play in ensuring that the local government administrations are rescued from the stranglehold of the State Governors of Nigeria. I am very hopeful that when that is done, we will see better performance of President Tinubu and subsequent administration, while as citizens we will directly hold the local government administrations to account.
Thank you and God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. ment administrations in Nigeria will come to an end soon. Because this has been one of the key banes of the progress of this Country. For over 40 years, the State Governors have been holding the local government administrations hostage, and rendering them at the beck and call of the Governors. Suffice it to say that the refusal of successive state administrations from the 2nd republic to date to allow the autonomy of local governments as enshrined in Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which recognizes: “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils.” is a testament to the hypocrisy of our expectations as a nation.
The sustained choke-hold of the Local Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by State Governors is not just for the control of the financial inflows of the LGA, but also to ensure continuous political control of the local government areas to perpetuate their control of the political structures of the local government areas for political supremacy, while and after leaving office as governors. The choke-holds on the LGAs have further stunted the growth of local government areas across Nigeria, and more importantly the assurances of good governance. Over time, the local Government administrations have become voiceless, powerless, and almost useless. The local government management and operations have been almost comatose, and therefore, they have not been able to add tangible values to our political evolution. The LGAs are mere appendages of the State Governors, while their offices are more or less liaison offices of the Governors. That is why the local government chairmen/ sole administrators sit out their tenures without making any impacts on the communities.
Due to the aforementioned reasons, there is so much opaqueness in the administration of local government administrations in Nigeria. Most of the local government chairmen also end up helping themselves from the remnant of funds credited to the coffers of the local government – that is what bad leadership at the top does – i.e., “when the head is rotten the body subsequently rots away. In
