Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen said on Monday, May 27, that the myriad challenges facing Nigeria today, including widespread insecurity, can be linked to the non-existence or weakness of governance at the local government level.
Represented by his deputy at a one-day national dialogue on Nigeria’s security challenges and good governance at the local level, the speaker said addressing these challenges is crucial for fostering good governance and strengthening national security.
The speaker however said that over the year, amidst complex and multi-faceted challenges, the government has taken bold and necessary actions to address the key and historical issues hindering Nigeria’s development.
He said: “While the immediate effects have been distressing for many, I firmly believe that these actions, which have already begun to yield positive results, will soon set Nigeria on a path of recovery, growth, and sustainable development.
He paid tribute to Nigerians for their unwavering faith in democracy and dedication to defending it over the past 25 years.
Abbas stressed that a critical component of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda is the integration of local governments into the mainstream of governance in Nigeria, adding that In a significant move, the federal government recently instituted legal action against the governors of the 36 states at the Supreme Court, addressing alleged misconduct in the administration of Local Government Areas (LGAs).
He said the suit, filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, seeks full autonomy for all LGAs in accordance with the 1999 Constitution, which mandates a democratically elected local government system.
According to him, local problems require immediate decisions at the palace where they occur and where the problem is most deeply felt, saying, “The essence of local government is to ensure local solutions to local problems using local resources.
Based on the same logic, he said, the 1999 constitution considers local governments as the basis of grassroots development and governance, especially section 7(3) of the Constitution provides that it is the duty of the local government council to participate in economic planning and development of the area under its jurisdiction.
The speaker said: “The failure of local government is well known to us. Despite the extensive provisions of the 1999 Constitution regarding the existence and functions of local governments, that tier of government has failed to live up to its billing.
“Some of the most significant challenges impeding their ability to fulfill their constitutionally assigned roles include the covert usurpation of local government functions by state governments, lack of financial autonomy due to the State Joint Local Government Account, political instability from tenure irregularities, and pervasive corruption.
“Currently, more than half of the 768 local governments operate under caretaker committees, violating constitutional mandates for democratic management. These issues, among others, have weakened local governance and allowed insecurity to thrive.
“In fact, many have argued that the myriad challenges facing Nigeria today, including widespread insecurity, are linked to the non-existence or weakness of governance at the Local Government level. Addressing these challenges is crucial for fostering good governance and strengthening national security.
“The issues of national security and good governance at this level, therefore, deserve very serious attention. We cannot be talking about national security and development if our local governments remain insecure, mismanaged, and underdeveloped.
“This national dialogue, coming at the heels of the recently held Retreat on National Security and State Police, gives us the unique opportunity to focus attention on the local governments. It is a well-known fact that the current security challenges have impacted more adversely on the local government areas than on any tier of government.
“Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, the National Assembly has consistently championed the cause of local government autonomy. One of the earliest efforts was the introduction of the Local Government Reform Act, which sought to clarify the roles and responsibilities of local governments and ensure their independence.
“This was followed by various constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening the financial and administrative autonomy of local governments. Despite facing numerous challenges and opposition, especially from some state governments, the National Assembly has remained steadfast in its commitment.
“A landmark achievement in this regard was the passage of the Fourth Alteration Bill, which, among other things, proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution to grant financial independence to local governments. This Bill mandated the direct allocation of funds from the Federation Account to local governments, bypassing state governments.
“Although this Bill faced hurdles in gaining the required concurrence from the state Houses of Assembly, it marked a significant step forward in the quest for local government autonomy. During the Fifth Alteration in the 9th Assembly, the Bill failed to meet the required two-thirds as most States voted against it.
“We in the 10th National Assembly are determined and committed to ensuring local governments are recognized and sufficiently empowered to perform their constitutionally assigned roles.
“As contained in our Legislative Agenda, the House will continue to play a crucial role in advocating for and enacting the necessary legislative frameworks to ensure that local governments are granted the autonomy they rightfully deserve.
“This is not just a legislative duty but a commitment to the democratic aspirations of the Nigerian people and the Constitution. For this reason, I call on all governors to put Nigeria first and collectively support the President in the quest to grant full autonomy to local governments.
“We must definitively resolve the controversy surrounding the status of local governments by providing the framework needed to ensure their optimal operation.”
He said the House was aware of the problems that hinder the optimal performance of local governments, adding that numerous solutions have been proposed and debated extensively over the past decades.
He said: “The key issue now is not to repeat and rehash these arguments but to agree on the next steps, build a strong consensus, and ensure the political will necessary to implement these changes. It is imperative that all stakeholders, especially the governors, commit to this cause with unwavering determination.”
