By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed satisfaction with the recent Supreme Court judgment that granted financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Publicity and Advocacy for NEF, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, on Friday in Abuja.

The forum said the landmark decision was anticipated to catalyse substantial development at the grassroots level, heralding a new era of decentralised power and resources within the nation’s governance framework.

According to it, this bold move marks a departure from the past practices of centralising power and resources in the hands of respective state governments.

“It holds great promise for empowering local governments to take charge of their own affairs and address the pressing needs of their communities.

“One of the pivotal advantages of financial autonomy for local government areas is the enhancement of their capacity to plan and execute development projects tailored to the unique necessities of their respective communities.

“In the past, local governments have been marginalized, emasculated, and sidelined in the decision-making process, with the bulk of resources and power concentrated at the state level.

“This has led to inefficiency and ineffectiveness in delivering basic services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure at the grassroots level,” he said.

NEF therefore, lauded the Supreme Court for addressing what it described as “imbalance of power” and resources, paving the way for more targeted and effective local governance.

According to the forum, with control over their finances, local governments will be able to prioritize and fund projects that directly impact the lives of their people.

It said local government councils could as well invest in building new schools, improving healthcare facilities, or upgrading roads and transportation networks to enhance connectivity and access to markets.

The forum emphasised that the financial autonomy was expected to foster greater accountability and transparency in the management of public funds at the local level.

“With more control over their expenditures, local governments will be held to higher standards of accountability and will be required to report on their financial activities and outcomes.

“This, in turn, is expected to help reduce corruption and mismanagement of public funds—longstanding issues in Nigeria’s governance system.

“Granting financial autonomy to the local government areas will promote participatory governance and citizen engagement in decision-making processes.

“Local governments will be more responsive to the needs and preferences of their communities, as they will have the flexibility to engage with local stakeholders and involve them in the planning and implementation of development projects.

“This will foster a sense of ownership and empowerment among citizens, as they will have a direct role in shaping the future of their communities,” he added.

The northern elders also expressed the belief that financial autonomy for local governments would also spur economic development at the grassroots level.

“Local government areas will create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, thereby generating employment opportunities for local residents by investing in necessary infrastructure and social services.

“This step is crucial in reducing poverty and inequality, stimulating economic activity, and improving the overall quality of life in both rural and urban areas.

“However, NEF also issued a stern warning to local government officials against the misappropriation of these newly granted resources.

“It should be noted that the plunder and pillage of local government resources by top officials would no longer be the order of the day and any acts of looting and open theft would not be tolerated.

“We stands firm in its commitment to ensuring that this Supreme Court judgment marks the beginning of a prosperous and equitable era for all Nigerian communities, driven by empowered and accountable local governments,” the forum added. (NAN)

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