Omowumi Omotosho
The recent Supreme Court ruling that granted fiscal autonomy to the 774 local government areas in Nigeria has sparked widespread reactions. Stakeholders have been vocal about measures needed to ensure effective implementation, with some expressing concerns over potential mismanagement by local government chairmen and continued covert control by governors.
The president of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Muazu Maifata, described the ruling as a transformative step for rural development. In an interview, he emphasized the necessity of increasing monthly allocations to local councils and lauded the judgment for securing the future of local governments.
He noted that some governors, such as those of Lagos, Nasarawa, and Delta, do not interfere with local government funds. Maifata urged local administrators to ensure accountability, citing the judgment as an opportunity to enhance the economy, security, and overall development.
“Some governors, like those of Lagos, Nasarawa, and Delta are not interfering with local government funds.
With this judgment, the future of local governments will be secured as it will create a robust economy, strengthen security, and address other challenges.
“We commend the President for his vision to empower the people thus. This judgment will help us achieve that vision.
“We must be accountable and transparent in our dealings. This judgment is an opportunity for us to serve the people better,” Maifata stated.
Human rights advocate Mr. Auwal Gombe from Gombe State shared optimistic expectations for improved infrastructure and services. “As a grassroots person, I expect improved infrastructure development, enhanced basic services, agricultural development, youth empowerment, transparency and accountability, community engagement, local economic growth, improved security, environmental management, and grassroots development projects,” he said.
Psychologist Mcfrederick Edache called for local governments to focus on community needs without politicizing them. He emphasized essential services such as water, electrification, roads, primary healthcare, schools, agricultural equipment, and youth empowerment.
“Let the 774 local government areas in the country identify community needs and execute them. Needs such as water, electrification, road, primary healthcare, schools, agricultural equipment, and youth empowerment,” he said
A resident of the FCT, Oyiwona Augustine, expressed hope for improved living standards, though he warned of potential misuse of powers and corruption based on the Nigerian system.
“In a country where things work, this should be the channel through which the rural people would begin to enjoy the true dividends of democracy, which they have been denied for decades
I don’t want to sound like a prophet of doom, but based on the Nigerian system, I foresee misuse of powers, looting, and extravagant spending,” he concluded
Likewise, a Nigerian from Suleja, Niger State, described the ruling as a solution to infrastructural decay in rural areas. He mentioned that financial constraints have hindered development, but with fiscal autonomy, local governments can address issues such as road repairs, borehole drilling, school maintenance, and local security.
“Honestly, most of the rural areas are underdeveloped because of financial constraints.
But now the local government can go on repairing some minor roads, drilling boreholes for the community, maintaining some primary schools, especially their building, paying vigilantes and hunters to protect the local areas and providing electricity to the local areas,” he declared
Furthermore, a Lagos resident, Agih Isaac Sylvester, expressed his expectations for the constitutional powers and functions of LGAs to be fully implemented, allowing citizens at the grassroots to experience government presence.
He said, “I expect to see especially the implementation of those functions to their fullest.
Let citizens at the grassroots feel the presence of the government and vice versa.”
Moreover, Joseph Adah from Mararaba, Nasarawa state, anticipated better economic conditions and inclusion in government policies, attributing this to the direct allocation of federal funds to local governments.
He said, “Since allocations from the federal government will now be made straight to local governments for immediate use unlike when it will have to pass through the state and will slow down the purposes to which the allocation is being made, we expect a turnaround development wise.”
In his perspective, Peter Uloko from Kaduna State described the Supreme Court ruling as a chance for improved governance at the grassroots level. However, he added that a lack of accountability could turn this opportunity into a nightmare, especially in urban local governments. He declared that “holding them accountable won’t be so easy, but I believe in rural areas, most will experience development.”
