CSOs Urge Tinubu, NASS to Demonstrate Political Will on Local Government Autonomy

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the Situation Room and the Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) have urged President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate the political will required to ensure full autonomy for local government councils in Nigeria.

The groups also called on the President to work closely with the National Assembly to implement the Supreme Court judgment affirming full local government autonomy, stressing that the move is essential for sustainable grassroots development.

The call was made on Friday in Enugu during a media parley themed “Local Government Administrative, Political and Fiscal Autonomy in Nigeria: A Recipe for Economic Recovery.”

Presenting the resolution of the meeting, the Executive Director of CCIDESOR, Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, demanded the direct payment of local government allocations from the Federation Account to the councils.

He also called for constitutional amendments to eliminate ambiguities surrounding the Joint Account system, as well as measures to strengthen accountability mechanisms at the local government level, including transparency in budgeting, procurement processes and citizen oversight.

Ononamadu further stressed the need to guarantee democratic elections into local government councils across all states of the federation.

According to him, Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful economic recovery without empowering local governments to function independently and effectively.

He noted that resources required to drive development at the grassroots already exist but are often diverted through the joint council–state account system and other joint project arrangements.

“The legal framework is emerging. The Supreme Court has spoken on the issue, and President Tinubu has also raised concerns over the deterioration of local government administration.

“What remains now is decisive political action from the President and the National Assembly,” he said.

Ononamadu added that a fully independent local government system would stimulate rural economic development, generate employment, strengthen grassroots democracy and improve the delivery of basic services such as primary healthcare, basic education, sanitation and water supply.