Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has identified inadequate funding as one of the most significant challenges hindering local government autonomy in Nigeria, calling for urgent reforms to enhance local government administration.
Speaking at a National Dialogue on Local Government Reform and Constitutional Amendment in Abuja, Abbas, represented by Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, emphasized that local governments are often financially constrained, affecting their ability to provide essential services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
He stated, “Local governments often operate on budgets that are insufficient to meet their responsibilities. This financial constraint limits their ability to deliver essential services such as education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and sanitation.”
Highlighting the need for autonomy, Abbas said, “Local governments must operate with a degree of autonomy that allows them to respond promptly and appropriately to the unique needs of their communities. Sadly, significant challenges, including inadequate funding, lack of autonomy, and corruption, have plagued local governments for decades.”
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency in managing local government funds. He highlighted the provisions of the 1999 Constitution that assign specific responsibilities to local governments, such as primary healthcare and sanitation, but lamented poor financial management and oversight.
“Local government councils are in charge of primary health care, sanitation, and road construction. During my tenure, we conducted free and fair elections, allowing opposition parties to win some councillor positions. Accountability is critical. Every expenditure above ₦500,000 was scrutinized to ensure funds were judiciously utilized,” Kalu said.
He also stressed the need to separate state and local government responsibilities, citing the example of primary school teachers’ salaries, which remain the responsibility of local governments.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole pointed out the constitutional contradictions that establish local governments while placing them under state assemblies’ control. He argued that true autonomy requires more than legal provisions, highlighting challenges of character and governance.
“The issue of local government autonomy is not just legal. Autonomy to do what? To misuse funds or to remain ineffective? These issues are far more complex than mere autonomy from state control,” Oshiomhole stated.
In his remarks, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, represented by House Majority Leader Professor Julius Ihonvbere, called for a coordinated effort among stakeholders to achieve meaningful reform.
“Local governments, as the closest tier of government, are pivotal in delivering essential services and enhancing democratic participation. Yet, limited autonomy, constrained financial independence, and weakened administrative capacity hinder their effectiveness,” he noted.
Kalu emphasized the need for financial and administrative autonomy, alongside constitutional amendments, to ensure local governments function as independent and effective partners in governance.
“Achieving these reforms will require collaboration among federal and state governments, lawmakers, judicial bodies, civil society, traditional leaders, and local communities. It is only through collective effort that we can chart a path toward equitable and accountable governance,” he said.
The dialogue underscored the urgency of reforming Nigeria’s local government system to foster sustainable development and improve governance at the grassroots.
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