Over a year after receiving what could be considered a landmark, favorable ruling, local government areas still remain under the control of state governors.
By ruling that state government actions were unconstitutional, the Supreme Court of Nigeria upheld the financial and administrative autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local councils in July 2024.
States were barred by the historic ruling from managing local government finances, removing elected councils, establishing caretaker committees, and removing federation account funds intended for local governments.
Nevertheless, the complete execution of that ruling is still a pipe dream, leading to more demands for the elimination of the local government structure.
Adamu Garba, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, recently reignited the controversy by advocating for the elimination of local governments in Nigeria.
Garba emphasized that traditional rulers within their domain should be given more authority and said local governments should be abolished because state governors use them as a back channel to embezzle money.
You are aware that state assemblies provide legislation to local governments. Whether they have autonomy or not, some state governors still use the LGs as ATMs.
In actuality, Nigeria is the only nation on the planet with a third level of government. Why not throw it out since it turned out to be unfeasible?
“Our traditional rulers should be given local government councils and allowed to govern in accordance with the customs and culture of the people living in their territory, rather than fighting for constitutional authority.
The leadership of these regions’ traditional rulers should receive all benefits owed to LGs. We had a very successful pre-colonial Native Authority system in place.
AA National Chairman: Do away with SIEC rather than local governments
Kenneth Udeze, the National Chairman of Action Alliance, or AA, disagreed with the call for local governments to be abolished in Nigeria.
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