Civil society groups call for implementation of financial autonomy for LGAs

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) situation Room and the Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) have called for the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for Local Governments in the country.

This is as the groups also requested for direct payment of local government allocations from the federation account to the Councils, constitutional reforms to eliminate ambiguities surrounding the joint account system.

And strengthen the local government accountability architecture including transparent budgeting, open procurement systems and citizen monitoring mechanism.

Emeka Ononamadu, Founder and Brief Executive Officer, Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) made the requests, in his quarterly press briefing in Owerri, where he said that local government autonomy and improved accountability, would reduce corruption in the country, and strengthen the local economy.

He said that the Supreme Court Judgment on July 11, 2024, affirming the financial autonomy of local governments in the country, which was consequent upon a case filed by the federal government through Lateef Fagbemi seeking to protect the local government from financial control by the state governments is a step in the right direction.

And argued that the full implementation of the judgment, would equally guarantee credible democratic elections at the local government level across all States.

Ononamadu, who decried the serious economic and governance challenges rocking the nation and which copiously manifests in excruciating poverty, unemployment, declining rural infrastructure and growing insecurity across many communities, said that the nation, would never achieve meaningful economic recovery without empowering its local governments.

The CCIDESOR boss also took exception to the State/Local Government Joint Account System provided for under section 162 of the Nation’s 1999 constitution, as amended and dismissed it as a “Structural Driver of Corruption”.

He lamented that while section 7 of the Constitution guarantees the existence of local governments, the joint account structure had historically enabled state governments to control, deduct and sometime divert this fund meant for local government administration.

Onunamadu listed the benefits of local government autonomy to include: economic recovery and stability in the country, job creation, delivery of essential services and reduction of insecurity.

“What remains now is strong political will to implement real reform. Local government autonomy combined with strong accountability systems will not only reduce corruption, but also stimulate local economic growth, strengthen rural development and reduce insecurity across Nigeria.”