The Senate of Nigeria has raised concerns over the state of local government councils in the country, accusing state governors of misappropriating funds allocated to them and limiting their autonomy.
During a session, the Senate resolved to halt further allocations to caretaker committee-led local government areas and urged President Bola Tinubu to advocate for full autonomy for local governments.
Senator Suleiman Kawu, who sponsored the motion, highlighted the importance of local governments in addressing community needs directly and shaping grassroots democracy. He emphasized the need for President Tinubu to champion the cause of local government autonomy, citing his past efforts in Lagos State.
In their contributions, senators expressed worry over the erosion of local government autonomy and the role of some governors in frustrating constitutional processes aimed at enhancing local government autonomy.
Former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, stressed the importance of returning 100% of local government funds to the councils and improving the capacity of those running them. He stated, “Local government funds must be returned 100 per cent to the local councils, with improvement in the capacity of people running the councils.”
Senator Ahmad Lawan echoed the need for effective local governments guaranteed by the constitution and emphasized the devolution of powers to enhance their capacity. He urged, “I urge that we find a way of improving the capacity of those who run the local government system, because I believe this requires devolution of powers.”
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah called for amendments to Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution to promote good governance, citing the lack of local government elections in states like Anambra for nearly two decades. He emphasized, “We need to amend it, so we can start having values for democracy in our states.”
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau lamented the sorry state of local governments, accusing governors of misappropriating funds and rendering local government councils ineffective. He stated, “Local governments are dead in Nigeria. Governors misappropriate local government funds.”
The Senate’s resolution reflects a growing concern over the need to revitalize local government administration and ensure their autonomy and effectiveness in serving grassroots communities.
