President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated his firm support for full local government autonomy, stressing that direct financial allocation to local councils remains the most effective way to drive grassroots development across Nigeria.
Speaking on the issue recently, the president emphasized that funds meant for Local Government Areas (LGAs) should be sent to them directly, rather than routed through state governments. According to Tinubu, allowing councils to receive and manage their resources without interference is critical to improving governance, strengthening accountability, and delivering real impact at the community level.
Tinubu’s position aligns with recent legal pronouncements affirming the financial independence of local governments. By advocating direct disbursement, the president aims to address longstanding concerns over the withholding or diversion of local government funds at the state level—an issue that has often undermined development at the grassroots.
The president noted that empowering local councils financially would enable them to plan and execute projects that directly address local needs, from basic infrastructure and healthcare to education and sanitation. He maintained that development is most effective when decision-making is closer to the people it affects.
Local government autonomy, as envisioned in Tinubu’s renewed push, involves more than just funding. It encompasses the freedom of councils to manage their own finances, staffing, and policies within the law, with minimal interference from higher tiers of government. This level of independence is designed to allow local governments to function as true administrative and legal entities capable of responding swiftly to community priorities.
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