The lack of efficiency in Nigeria’s local government system has become a pressing issue once again. Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a non-governmental organization, initiated legal action against state governors and the FCT Minister to disclose the allocations to Local Governments (LGs). Simultaneously, a national newspaper reported on governors violating the Supreme Court’s ruling that only elected officials should oversee LG affairs. These incidents shed light on the decay and underdevelopment at the grassroots level in Nigeria.
In its pursuit of a better society, SERAP requested the Federal High Court in Abuja to mandate governors and the minister to reveal the details of LG allocations and disbursements in their states from 1999 till present. The estimated total allocations exceed N40 trillion.
Despite this significant amount of funding, there is little visible impact. Former president Muhammadu Buhari accused governors of siphoning off half of the monthly allocations, leaving the remainder to the LG chairmen.
Buhari’s proposed solution was to introduce a law ensuring LG autonomy. However, governors continue to exert control over LG operations, appointing mostly individuals loyal to them to lead the councils.
In states where LG elections are held, the ruling party often wins over 90% of the seats, making these elections more of a charade than the ones conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Consequently, the handpicked LG officials find it challenging to oppose the governors who appointed them in Nigeria’s political system.
The ongoing issue stems from the defiance of a December 2016 Supreme Court ruling, where nearly half of the states in violation continue to allow governors to place appointed individuals in charge of LGs instead of elected representatives.
This situation impacts 349 LGAs in 18 states, prompting a senator in December to urge the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee to withhold funds from the non-compliant LGs.
Presently, LGs are a mere shadow of their potential. Governors have taken over key responsibilities assigned to LGs in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, such as regulating markets, primary education, and managing public spaces.
Moreover, governors control the Joint Account of the two tiers of government, hampering the provision of essential services by LGs.
The primary obstacle hindering an effective LG system is Nigeria’s flawed political structure. The 1999 Constitution designates LGs as the third tier of government, contradicting the principles of federalism. In contrast, other federal systems assign control of LGs to sub-national governments for more autonomy and efficiency.
For instance, the United States has 85,000 LGs, known as counties and municipalities, while India boasts 267,283 LGs as of mid-2019. Former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu’s creation of 37 local council development areas during his tenure (1999-2007) remains unrecognized by the Constitution.
To establish a robust LG system, stakeholders, especially the National Assembly amending the 1999 Constitution, should repeal the provision designating LGs as the third tier of government. The revised amendment should grant explicit authority over LGs to the federating units. By empowering states to finance their LGs independently, accountability and effectiveness can be ensured.