The Executive Director of Electoral College Nigeria, Kunle Lawal, has commended the Supreme Court’s decision to grant financial autonomy to local government areas in Nigeria.
Lawal described the verdict as a significant step towards achieving true federalism and grassroots development.
He noted that the lack of financial autonomy had hindered local government councils from delivering essential services and infrastructure to their communities.
Lawal highlighted challenges such as political interference, corruption, and mismanagement, which have undermined the financial independence of local councils, according to Leadership.
He emphasized the need for capacity building and citizen engagement to overcome these challenges and ensure effective service delivery at the grassroots level.
Lawal believes that financial autonomy for local governments will empower them to address unique community needs, contributing to national development.
The Supreme Court’s verdict is a significant milestone in the quest for local government financial autonomy, and ECN’s support is a testament to the importance of this issue for Nigeria’s democratic development.
“Financial autonomy for local governments in Nigeria is a cornerstone for achieving true federalism and grassroots development. Despite being recognized as the third tier of government by the Nigerian Constitution, local governments face significant challenges in managing their financial resources independently,” he stated.
“The lack of transparency in the SJLGA system allows for corruption and mismanagement of funds. Local governments are left with insufficient funds to execute development projects, leading to poor service delivery.
“Dependence on Federal Allocations – Local governments heavily rely on allocations from the Federation Account, with limited capacity to generate their own revenue.
“This dependence makes them vulnerable to the financial whims of higher tiers of government, Lack of Capacity – as many local governments lack the administrative and technical capacity to manage finances effectively. Training and capacity-building initiatives are needed to empower local officials to handle financial resources competently,” he further pointed out.
