Local Goverment Need Full Autonomy to Drive True Democracy – Minister

The Nigerian government believes firmly that full autonomy and devolution of authority at the local government level will make the third tier of governance more effective and efficient.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed during a study tour by participants of the senior executive course 44 of year 2022 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies to the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture on Tuesday in Abuja.

In his paper presentation, the Minister further said that local governance in Nigeria remains relevant for entrenching democracy and bringing about rapid development at the grassroots.

The Minister stated that the present administration was very conscious of the need to strengthen local governance as part of overall effort to promote democracy, good governance and development.

In his presentation titled; Strengthening Local Governance In Nigeria, Challenges, Options and Opportunities to the study group, the Minister said over the years, Nigeria has learnt some key lessons which has affirmed the believe that the country must consider more devolution of authority to the local governments in Nigeria.

“Full local government autonomy enables it to exist and function as an independent unit of administration and authority. Also uniformity of local council tenures, high political participation will bring about the required change in the system.”

The Minister also called for the creation of an enabling environment for the emergence of strong legal and democratic institutions that can checkmate corruption, impunity and lack of due process at the level of local government administration in Nigeria.

Policy formulation

In his earlier remark, the Team lead of the Senior Executive Course 44 of year 2022 study group one, Dr Ibrahim Choji said the group was on the study tour to strengthen their groups work based on the Presidential approval of the topic of research and general assignment handed to it by the President.

Dr. Choji stated that at the end of the study, President Muhammadu Buhari will be handed the concluded work which is aimed at policy formulation.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari who was also a part of the interactive question and answer session disclosed that the NOA is the bedrock of grassroots connection and mobilization with presence in all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

He said the agency use community mobilization officers who operate and also understand the localities they are domiciled and the strategy has been working effectively.

Nigeria has a total of 774 local government councils across the country and the present administration has been harping on financial autonomy for this third tier of government for sustainable development.

Emmanuel Ukoh