Editorial: Implement local government autonomy now

Two years after the Supreme Court delivered what should have been a watershed judgment on local government financial autonomy, Nigeria is still waiting for its full implementation. That delay is unacceptable. It undermines the rule of law, weakens democracy and denies millions of Nigerians the dividends of governance at the grassroots.

The Supreme Court’s judgment of July 11, 2024 was clear. Federal allocations meant for the country’s 774 local government councils should be paid directly into their accounts. State governments were barred from withholding or spending those funds, while unelected caretaker committees were declared unconstitutional. The judgment was expected to end decades of financial dependence that had crippled local administration.

Yet almost two years later, evidence suggests that the old order largely remains intact. Although more than N10.4tn has been allocated to local governments during the period, many councils still complain that they do not receive their allocations directly. In several states, the controversial State Joint Local Government Account continues to determine how much councils receive and when they receive it. In some cases, council chairmen reportedly require state approval before embarking on projects funded with money constitutionally belonging to their councils.

This situation makes a mockery of the Supreme Court’s decision. Court judgments are not advisory opinions. They are binding. When governments fail to implement the decisions of the nation’s highest court, they weaken public confidence in the justice system and create the dangerous impression that constitutional obligations can be ignored.

The tragedy is that the greatest victims are ordinary Nigerians. Across the country, communities continue to struggle with dilapidated roads, poorly equipped primary healthcare centres, neglected schools, unreliable water supply and inadequate security. Citizens naturally ask how local governments can receive hundreds of billions of naira every month while basic public services remain in such poor condition.

Financial autonomy alone will not solve every problem. Corruption, incompetence and poor planning also exist within some local governments. Nevertheless, genuine accountability cannot flourish where councils lack control over their own resources. It is impossible to hold local government chairmen responsible for development if they do not have direct authority over the funds allocated to them.

The Federal Government must therefore move beyond committees and consultations. The mechanisms for direct payment should already be operational. Every local government should receive its allocation directly without passing through state-controlled structures. Any administrative obstacle delaying implementation must be removed immediately.

At the same time, the National Assembly should urgently amend constitutional provisions that may continue to create ambiguity around the State Joint Local Government Account. The Constitution should leave no room for arrangements that undermine local government independence.

Financial autonomy must also be matched by stronger accountability measures. Every council should publish monthly income and expenditure reports that are easily accessible to the public. Independent external audits should become mandatory. Procurement processes should be transparent, while civil society organisations, traditional institutions and community development associations should be encouraged to monitor projects and budgets. Digital payment systems and real-time expenditure tracking should be introduced to reduce opportunities for diversion of funds.

State governments should not view local government autonomy as a loss of influence. Rather, it should be seen as an opportunity to deepen democratic governance. Strong local governments complement, rather than weaken, state administrations by bringing decision-making closer to the people and accelerating development at the grassroots.

The experience reportedly emerging from Jigawa State demonstrates that direct allocations can work where there is political will. Other states should learn from that example instead of resisting reforms that have already been validated by the nation’s highest court.

Nigeria cannot continue to celebrate local government autonomy in theory while denying it in practice. The Supreme Court has spoken. The Constitution must be respected. The Federal Government must enforce compliance, state governments must cooperate, and local government officials must justify the trust placed in them through transparency and effective service delivery.

Grassroots democracy cannot thrive without financial independence. Every further delay prolongs underdevelopment in the communities that need government the most. The time for excuses has passed. The time for full implementation of local government autonomy is now.