Senate accuses Governors of 'killing' local government system in Nigeria

In a historic move by the National Assembly, local governments across Nigeria, including those in Osun State, are set to experience significant autonomy, both financially and administratively.

Hope returns to local government administration as the Senate on Wednesday, 15th of May debated a motion sponsored by Suleiman Kawu, representing Kano South. The Upper Chambers accused State Governor of being responsible for the non-functionality of local government in Nigeria.

Leading the debate, Kawu lamented “that in the tapestry of Nigeria’s governance system, local governments are meant to be threads weaving development at the grassroots.

He said, “Envisioned as the closest tier of administration to the people, they hold the potential to address local needs directly and shape communities from the inside out. But the story of Nigeria’s local government system is one of promise and paradox, woven with threads of hope and frustration.”

He went the historical route by saying “the journey began in 1976 with a local government reform, aiming to decentralize power and empower communities.

“Envisioned as self-governing entities with elected officials, local governments handled critical aspects of community life – primary education, healthcare, sanitation, local infrastructure and community security.

“It was a dream of grassroots democracy, where decisions were made closer to the people they impacted”.

However, according to him, the dream of achieving the objectives of the local government system encountered harsh realities.

During contributions from senators across party lines to the debate, it was lamentation galore from them that the local government system has been crippled by the governors and thus , the need for constitution amendment to give it autonomy, administratively and financially.

Among senators that contributed are Orji Uzor Kalu, Ahmed Lawan, Eyinnaya Abaribe, Friday Benson, Ifeanyi Uba, etc. They all called for amendment of Section 7 of the constitution.

The deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau who presided over the session said “the local government system is dead in Nigeria and can only be resuscitated through far-reaching constitution amendments which should guarantee their administrative and financial autonomy as well as making INEC, their electoral umpire.”

It would be recalled that the National Assembly has passed the Financial Autonomy Bill which aimed= to eradicate the State Joint Local Government Account, introducing a new framework where all allocations due to local government councils from the Federation Account and state-generated revenue will be deposited directly into a Local Government Allocation Account. This initiative is designed to ensure that local governments have direct access to their funds, fostering greater financial independence and enabling them to execute development projects more efficiently.

Complementing financial reforms, the Administrative Autonomy Bill seeks to reinforce local governments as a fundamental tier of government, fully autonomous and democratically governed. This bill aims to embed the governance structure of local governments in the Constitution, protecting them from external influences and interferences, thereby enhancing their capability to serve the community effectively.

For Osun State, these changes are more than legislative adjustments; they represent an opportunity to enhance local governance, improve public services, and ensure that development initiatives meet the specific needs of local communities. These reforms could lead to more transparent, accountable, and responsive governance at the local level, driving development and fostering a closer relationship between the government and the people.

As these bills transition into law, it is crucial for stakeholders, including local government officials, community leaders, and citizens, to engage actively with the processes to ensure that the objectives of these reforms are fully realized. This is a call to action for all involved to embrace these changes and work collaboratively to usher in a new era of governance that truly reflects the democratic ideals of our society.

By empowering local governments, we are not only fostering a more robust democratic framework but also ensuring that the voices of the smallest units of our democracy are amplified and that they play an active role in shaping their destinies.

To pioneer this, Insight Initiative is set to engage all stakeholders in order to sensitize residents on the roles of the third tier of the government and to bring about civic engagement. The OsunOpenLG Project is expected to bring about accountability and functional local government system in Osun State.

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This report is prepared by OsunOpenLG, a Project committed to promoting transparency and efficiency in local governance across Osun State.

Our goal is to ensure that these reforms translate into tangible benefits f`or the communities we serve. For more information on our programs and how you can get involved, please visit our website.