Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has voiced strong support for local government (LG) financial autonomy, citing it as a crucial step for improving grassroots governance in Nigeria. His remarks followed the July 11, 2024, Supreme Court ruling that upheld LG financial independence.

Speaking at a House of Representatives forum on Monday, the former Edo State governor emphasized the importance of accountability and character in leadership. He argued that local government chairmen, being closer to the people, are better positioned to prioritize community needs like roads and healthcare.

Oshiomhole humorously added, “It’s better to have 774 local government chairmen who are thieves than one big thief. At least every local government will produce one or two billionaires, rather than having just one billionaire in the state.”

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on LG Challenges

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, identified inadequate funding as a primary obstacle to LG autonomy. He called for reforms to strengthen LG administration, emphasizing the critical need for sufficient budgets to deliver essential services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

“Local governments often operate on budgets that are insufficient to meet their responsibilities. This financial constraint limits their ability to deliver essential services,” Abbas noted.

He also stressed the importance of granting local governments the autonomy to address the unique needs of their communities, highlighting long-standing issues like corruption and mismanagement.

Orji Uzor Kalu Stresses Accountability

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu underscored the need for transparency in managing LG funds. Referring to the 1999 Constitution, he reminded stakeholders of LG responsibilities like primary healthcare and sanitation but lamented poor oversight and resource management.

Kalu shared his own governance approach: “During my tenure, we conducted free and fair elections, allowing opposition parties to win councillor positions. Every expenditure above ₦500,000 was scrutinized to ensure judicious use of funds.”

He also advocated for clearer separation of state and LG roles, citing primary school teachers’ salaries as an area requiring local government accountability.