Tinubu’s LG autonomy gamble – TheGuildNG

“Local government isn’t just about politics, it’s about people’s lives.” – Eric Garcetti

Finally, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has ruled in favor of Nigeria’s 774 Local Governments (LGs)! May God’s name be praised!

Yes, the Supreme Court ruling is a major victory, directing that 20.6% of the Federation Account allocation be paid directly to LG accounts as constitutionally mandated! But how did Nigeria descend to this point? It is clear that most state governors tried to control LGs by appointing their herds and apparatchiks as chairmen of the council, thus ignoring elections. President Bola Tinubu deserves the highest conceivable praise for taking bold measures.

In Nigeria, state governors have been reluctant to grant fiscal autonomy to LGs for obvious reasons of political infighting, fear of reduced revenue, patronage and clientelism, fear of accountability and corruption. Notable among others are the centralization of resources and the diminished influence of council chairmen. So Tinubu’s commendable move should be supported because strengthening the third tier of government and attracting competent persons with better management skills is crucial. We can only wish that this had been done and constitutionalized since 1999.

In a democracy, development usually starts at the grassroots level, as we see in countries like India and Malaysia. Think of Andy Burnham, whose political career started in local government (as a councillor on Leigh Metropolitan Borough Council: 1986-1992)! He moved on to national politics (as a Member of Parliament, MP, for Leigh: 2001-2015, and a Minister: 2008-2010). In 2017, Burnham returned to regional politics as directly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester, a position he holds to this day. Can former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Nigeria ever consider becoming the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government in Ogun State? Well, this is how successive leaders have dragged the country down and it’s a shame!

Jerry Brown is another exemplary leader who demonstrated a commitment to public service. First, he served as governor of California from 1876 to 1983. He ran for president in 1988 and 1992 and was mayor of Oakland from 1999 to 2007 before serving as governor of California again from 2011 to 2019. This career path highlights how developed societies value and prioritize local government administration. In contrast, it is unlikely that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would ever consider becoming chairman of Jada Local Government in Adamawa State, underscoring the different priorities in Nigeria’s political landscape.

While a robust LG is one that can generate its own revenue and develop at its own pace, it is clear that our understanding of local and state government structures and their relationships is flawed, leading to our current predicament. Here, state governments are usurping LG powers due to their own laziness. Instead of allowing LGs to flourish, states are embezzling funds meant for “where the rubber meets the road” and are lamentably wasting them instead of using them for their intended purposes. Unfortunately, no change is forthcoming as everyone seems to benefit from the status quo.

Historically, the United States created counties through referendums, sometimes with hundreds of counties within a state. While some states, for example, have fewer, such as Delaware with 3, or more, such as Texas with 254, New York State has 62 counties, equal to Nigeria’s LGs. US counties are largely self-financed, unlike Nigeria’s LGs, which rely on federal and state appropriations, often arbitrarily withheld or released by state governors. If state governments had allowed LGs to develop independently, the outcome would have been very different. In the UK, property taxes are levied by LGs, while in Nigeria, states impose the Land Use Charge. A Land Use Charge on a property in Ijebu-Jesa would have to accrue to the local government of Oriade, not the state government of Osun. If LGs in Nigeria had similar financial autonomy, imagine the transformation they would undergo!

In ‘The People’s Republic’, Obafemi Awolowo stressed the importance of local government autonomy for grassroots development. He believed that local governments best understood the needs of their communities and should be empowered to address them. Awolowo’s policies in the Western Region reflected this, with elected councils and a focus on community development. He advocated for independent, self-sufficient local governments with the ability to generate revenue and make decisions without interference.

In the 1950s and 1960s, LGs played a crucial role. A historical review of the achievements of LGs in housing projects, roads and drainage in Lagos Island for example would be truly impressive. Back then, LGs were in effect mini-states, unlike the ineffective entities we have today. While effective LG governance in other countries prioritises the welfare of citizens, fosters community involvement, encourages progress and maintains transparency and accountability, LGs in Nigeria are mere conduits for state governments, serving as political instruments and employment for political apprentices, professional hoppers and desperate politicians who delight in wallowing in delusions. It is unfortunate that Nigeria’s LGs have deviated from their original purpose.

In fact, Nigeria’s LG board before independence was a shining example of effectiveness, with successful primary schools, dispensaries and agricultural extension services. Even prominent figures like Bode Thomas, Fani Kayode and Rotimi Williams started their careers in the LGs during the First Republic, and they were among the best of their generation. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the current crop of LG leaders. This legacy has been lost, but revitalizing the autonomy of the LG can revive this progress!

In the US, states are responsible for conducting federal elections and submitting the results to Washington for counting. The federal electoral body simply calculates the total and announces the winners. In Nigeria, ‘so who born cat born kitten!’ Here, entrusting federal elections to state electoral commissions would be a recipe for disaster. While Nigeria’s current system undermines federalism, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should take over the conduct of the LG elections as this is the only way to prevent the chaos and totalitarian grip that currently plagues the process. The sad truth is that state electoral commissions have lost all credibility and federalists are now bearing the brunt of this failure. In a truly federal system, state electoral commissions are constitutionally responsible for conducting even federal elections within their states, but the current arrangement has failed them to ensure free and fair elections.

Since the success or failure of decentralization reforms in Nigeria depends on the ability of LGs to effectively manage resources, deliver services and engage with citizens, the federal government should establish a Local Government Service Commission, implement a uniform LG system, promote gender equality and strengthen LG legislation. Other challenges such as inadequate financing, poor infrastructure, inefficient revenue collection, weak institutional capacity, limited access to credit and state government control should be comprehensively addressed, and public-private partnerships, infrastructure development and transparency and accountability should be improved.

With a foundation of fairness, accountability, clear role definition and effective oversight, LG governance in Nigeria has the potential to be a powerful catalyst for grassroots development and democratic governance. The autonomous local governments can also unlock opportunities to address unemployment, infrastructure development and rural-urban migration. As an incubator of innovative ideas and the engine room of progress, LGs can strengthen the vital roles of traditional rulers as custodians of community customs and traditions, which successive governments have failed to adequately recognize.

By supporting local economic development, encouraging citizen participation, increasing access to information and communications technology (ICT) and helping governments improve their financial management systems and practices, the Federal Government can further enable LGs to become more effective, efficient and responsive to the needs of citizens. By enabling them, Nigeria can build a more democratic, inclusive and prosperous society, enabling sustainable development, economic growth and improved living standards. This requires a concerted effort from the Federal Government, state governments and citizens.

May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

*KOMOLAFE wrote from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria ([email protected])