Joyce Mmereole Okoli
Dr. Ade Dosunmu, a public policy expert and former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has described the proposal by the Federal Government to grant full autonomy to the local governments in Nigeria as a welcome development saying that it’s long overdue.
The move, spearheaded by Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, involves approaching the Supreme Court to secure this landmark change. Dr. Dosunmu emphasized that the lack of autonomy for local governments has hindered Nigeria’s democratic progress, contrasting the current situation with practices in other democratic countries where local governments operate independently.
Dr. Dosunmu highlighted that the lack of autonomy for local governments has hindered Nigeria’s democratic progress. He noted that while the 1999 Constitution recognizes local governments as the third tier of government, it contains contradictory clauses in the 4th schedule and section 7, which give some powers to state governments and houses of assembly over local administration. Dosunmu urged for these ambiguities to be resolved to ensure complete financial and administrative independence for local governments.
Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership on this issue, Dosunmu emphasized the transformative impact full autonomy could have on the 774 local governments across Nigeria.
He argued that such a move would bring immediate democratic dividends to citizens and enhance political participation at the grassroots level. “Every Nigerian lives in a local government, underscoring the strategic importance of this autonomy,” he stated.
The autonomy would attract higher quality leadership at the local level, reduce the burdens on state and federal governments, and enable more efficient service delivery. It would also foster greater transparency and accountability, as local governments would be directly responsible for their decisions and finances.
Dr. Dosunmu concluded that granting full autonomy to local governments is essential for better governance, increased citizen participation, and accelerated grassroots development, aligning with Nigeria’s goal of achieving good governance and sustainable development.