By – Misbau Alamu Lateef, Ph.D
The issues leading to yesterday’s landmark decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) granting financial autonomy to Local Government (LG) Administrations has sparked significant debate before and since the decision was rendered. However, this short intervention does not intend to go into the legalese of the debate. I am focusing only on the political implications of the decision. After all, the laws are made for the people and not the people for the laws.
So, while some argue that direct allocation of revenue from the federation account to LGs in a federation contradicts the traditional principles of federalism as expounded by K.C. Wheare and others on the dual devolution of powers and resources between a federal government and the federating units (states), this view overlooks the perrenial paralysis of grassroots governance in Nigeria as a result of continuous emasculation and misappropriation of LG funds and imposition of unelected caretaker committees by state governors. For instance, my Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State, which in recent times receives an average of N250 million monthly from the federation account (FAAC), has only been consistently allocated as little as N12 million or less per month by the state government, a practice that is common among Governors across Nigeria.
In light of the foregoing, what the landmark decision of the SCN has done in short is to address an over two-decade mischief that has crippled local administrations across the states in Nigeria. The decision now ensures direct allocation of federal allocations to LGs, prohibits unilateral removal of elected LG officials by governors, and bars state assemblies from dissolving democratic LG institutions and/or replacing them with unelected caretaker committees.
But quite contrary to the erroneous notion in some quarters that direct allocation of federal revenue to LGs is a setback to federalism, this decision of the SCN aligns with practices in other federations around the world. The U.S. federal government directly funds local school districts (LGs) and implements community development block grants. In India, the Union government implements schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) at the local levels (LGs), bypassing the states. In Australia, the federal government provides direct funding to local councils for infrastructure projects. In Canada, the Federal Gas Tax Fund, now part of the Canada Community-Building Fund, is a programme where the federal government provides direct funding to municipalities (LGs) for infrastructure projects. If all of these have not impeded the theory and practices of federalism in these established federations, why should they be in Nigeria?
Now, effective and efficient local government administration is crucial for grassroots development and democracy. It ensures services are tailored to peculiar local needs, promotes civic participation, and serves as a training ground for future national leaders. If the decision of the SCN is well implemented and owned by Nigerians through vigilance and active interest (and participation) in local politics and governance, the decision could revitalise our local government administrations, promoting accountability and development at the grassroots where the real people and issues reside.
Meanwhile, even if the concerns about federalism principles are valid, the practical benefits of this decision of the SCN in addressing long-standing governance issues at the local level cannot be overlooked. It represents a nuanced approach to federalism that prioritises effective governance over rigid adherence to theory.
Finally, with this new or renewed era of local government financial autonomy in Nigeria, it is crucial for citizens to remain vigilant and actively participate in grassroots governance. We must hold our local government officials accountable through regular monitoring of projects, attention to council issues, and engagement in community development initiatives. For emphasis, this landmark decision of the SCN provides an opportunity for a revitalised local democracy, but its success ultimately depends on our collective involvement and oversight. Yes, we can all resist manipulation of LG elections by State Governors.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Kudos to the SCN
Kudos to the President!
