A visit to the premises of any local government secretariat in Nigeria is enough to convince one that this tier of government has been grossly neglected. Many of the secretariats are housed in old, run-down buildings characterised by broken furniture, leaking roofs, and overgrown surroundings. Most of them lack basic amenities like electricity, water and sanitation facilities.

These challenges hinder the effective functioning of local government administrations in Nigeria and delivery of services to the communities, defeating the very aim of setting them up. Rather than bring development closer to the people, LG administrations in Nigeria have alienated them.

The LG system was created in 1976 with the introduction of the Local Government Reforms. Since then, there have been several constitutional provisions to strengthen the system. The 1979 Constitution raised the LG to a significant position of a third tier of government with full powers to administer the LGA.

Unfortunately, today, the reforms are observed more on paper than in practice. The LGs lack the autonomy necessary to function independently of the state governments, and, therefore, bedevilled by ineffective leadership, weak institutional capacity, inadequate infrastructure and personnel.

The ultimate result of these shortcomings is the near collapse of democracy at the grass-roots level. The state governors have overbearing influence on LG decisions, especially regarding LG finances and elections. In fact, some of them hardly organise elections. Where elections are held, the governors ensure the exercises are manipulated to install their cronies who will in turn mobilise support for their re-election bids.

As a result, the grass-roots people are largely unrepresented in the true sense of the word. It is no wonder, therefore, that dilapidated roads, inadequate water supply, and poor healthcare services have become the landmarks of most local government areas.

To check the ugly trend, the Supreme Court, on July 11, 2024, delivered a judgement affirming the financial autonomy of all the 774 LG councils and upholding a Federal Government?s suit aimed at reinforcing the independence of LGAs.

Following the landmark judgement, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), warned that the Commission will take action against anybody who defied the Supreme Court?s ruling.

Also speaking at the Sixth Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA, Dr. Aliyu restated that LGAs must be politically independent, and that any state-level official who violates the Supreme Court decision will face the law.

Despite these warnings and similar calls for action by many Nigerians, including some governors, the LGs are still in the grip of the state governments. We, therefore, call on the appropriate authorities to enforce the law.

The Federal Government should ensure that the guidelines for LG autonomy are adhered to, particularly in finances. This is the only way the LGs can be unshackled, made to experience real autonomy and serve the purpose for which they were set up. (Vanguard Editorial)