Northern Elders hail Supreme Court judgement on LG autonomy

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), on Friday, expressed satisfaction with the recent Supreme Court judgement that grants financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The forum said that the landmark decision will catalyze substantial development at the grassroots level, heralding a new era of decentralized power and resources within the nation’s governance framework.

NEF spokesperson Abdul-Azeez Suleiman in a statement applauded the Supreme Court for addressing this imbalance of power and resources, paving the way for more targeted and effective local governance.

He said: “This bold move, which marks a departure from the past practices of centralizing power and resources in the hands of respective state governments, holds great promise for empowering local governments to take charge of their own affairs and address the pressing needs of their communities.”

“In the past, local governments have been marginalized, emasculated, and sidelined in the decision-making process, with the bulk of resources and power concentrated at the state level.

“This has led to inefficiency and ineffectiveness in delivering basic services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure at the grassroots level.

“With control over their finances, local governments will be able to prioritize and fund projects that directly impact the lives of their people. For instance, they can invest in building new schools, improving healthcare facilities, or upgrading roads and transportation networks to enhance connectivity and access to markets.”

NEF explained that with more control over their expenditures, local governments will be held to higher standards of accountability and will be required to report on their financial activities and outcomes.

“This is expected to help reduce corruption and mismanagement of public funds longstanding issues in Nigeria’s governance system,” Suleiman said.

“Granting financial autonomy to the LGAs will promote participatory governance and citizen engagement in decision-making processes. Local governments will be more responsive to the needs and preferences of their communities, as they will have the flexibility to engage with local stakeholders and involve them in the planning and implementation of development projects.

“This will foster a sense of ownership and empowerment among citizens, as they will have a direct role in shaping the future of their communities.”