Beyond The Local Government’s Autonomy -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

For the 774 local government in Nigeria, succour came to them on Thursday 11July, when supreme ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay allocations directly to them from federation account. Delivering judgment in the suit, a seven-member panel of justices held that state governments have continued to abuse their powers by retaining and using the funds meant for LGAs. The apex court also ordered the federal government to withhold allocations of LGs governed by unelected officials appointed by the governor. It could be recalled, in May this year, the federal government filed a suit at the supreme court against the governors of the 36 states, seeking full autonomy for the country’s 774 local governments. In the suit filed by Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, the federal government also requested the supreme court to authorise the direct transfer of funds from the federation account to local governments.

Justice Emmanuel Agim-led seven-man panel upheld the position of the federal government that governors lack authority under the law to arbitrarily dissolve democratically-elected local

governments councils and set up caretaker committees in their place as ubiquitously practised. No doubt, Nigerians hailed the judgement and described it as timely. The judgement has rekindled the hopes of many Nigerians and advocates of local government autonomy. Prior to this welcome development, local government which is the third tier of government exists only by name. They have become mere appendage of state governors who control and pocket their funds with impunity. There is poor services delivery between local governments and the communities they were created to serve. The primary functions of local government are: collection of rates, radio and television licenses, establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds, and homes for the destitute, licensing of bicycles, trucks, canoes, wheelbarrows, and carts, construction and maintenance of roads, streets, street lighting, drains, and other public highways and facilities etc. Unfortunately, many local governments are financially incapable to carry out such functions.

To be fair to the local governments in Nigeria, the dismal performances are not entirely their fault, it can be attributed to the usurpation of power by the state governors. Besides, state governors have rendered them poor. Their statutory allocations have been tempered with or out-rightly stole under the cover of joint account. That is the reason, many local governments after they pay salaries, hardly carry out any tangible development projects. By rendering skeletal services or inability to provide good and services, one begins to see the reason why poverty becomes prevalent in many rural communities across the country. There is no gain saying the facts, effective local government system is capable of eradicating poverty and insecurity. Functional local government system will provide jobs opportunities, eradicate poverty, improve security and halt rural to urban migration.

Meanwhile, the much talked about local governments autonomy can not be completed without good and credible local governments elections. While the Supreme court ruling has outstripped state governors the power to stop appointing caretakers to overseer our local governments councils, local government election being conducted by State Independent Electorate Commission(SIECO), is nothing but mere appointments. Political party which controls power ensures it wins all the seats from chairmen to councillors. Unless state electoral bodies are reformed, free and fair elections conducted, unqualified leaders will continue to emerge and pilot the affairs of the local governments. This will invariably hamper the delivery of democracy dividends. Another fear being expressed is, with the financial autonomy granted to the local governments, are the governors not likely to impose or support their lackies as their preferred candidates during elections? What about the powerful governors strike a deal with their favourite candidates as condition to get support and win elections?

Nonetheless, the Tinubu administration deserves a pat on the back for ensuring that the long-awaited local governments financial autonomy is materialised. As the president stated after the historical judgement, “the chairmen of local governments should be ready to give an account of the allocations they will be receiving from the federation account” Beyond that, the chairmen should be ready for more scrutiny from Nigerians.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State. 08169056963.