Recently, the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave a judgement that declared Local Governments in Nigeria to be independent in running affairs without further interference from the state governments. It was a landmark judgement which many described as victory for democracy and respite for the third tier of government that had been under the control of state governors all these years. The judgement came after many years of protracted legal battle between the third tier of government and the state which held it down, and equally affected development at the local level, owing to the fact that politics often overshadows noble intentions in Nigeria.
Twenty-five years of democracy before the judgement was delivered is considered as a long time coming, but as they say; ”it’s better late than never”. The non-performance of the local government is hinged on the overbearing influence of state governors who wielded much powers, and controlled virtually everything in the states prior to the Supreme Court judgement. Since the pronouncement of the Apex Court, there have been positive comments and jubilation across the country by those who felt the third tier of government had been under bondage and unable to deliver on its statutory mandate as the government at the grassroots, and the closest to the people.
Hitherto, the Local government was tied to the apron string of the state governors who determined what goes to the local councils, especially in revenue allocation and appointment of the Chairmen and their Councillors. It’s no longer news that local government councils in the country are dysfunctional, simply because the Constitution that created it, unfortunately, owing to legal technicalities often thrown up by the political class has not really allowed the third tier of government to function as it should. The governors too, handpick their loyalists that they can easily manipulate, before, during and after elections. This also accounted for too little or no meaningful, people-oriented development at the grassroots, leading to the frequent mass migration of people, especially the youths, to the urban centres in search of better condition of living, even where there is none with the present economic situation.
With the latest Apex Court declaration, especially this time the country is in dire need of good governance, what Nigerians expect is complete turnaround at the local councils that are no more at the whims and caprices of their paymasters who had frustrated efforts in the past to free the third tier of the administration, because of pecuniary gains that have kept the country down. The elections of local government chairmen, going forward should not be based on political considerations, but for qualified persons with the capacity to lead the people, and ensure that development trickles down to the grassroots. We commend therefore, the governors who have pledged to loosen their grip on the local governments and align with the judgement of the supreme Court.
For President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to have welcomed the Supreme Court verdict is equally laudable. The Supreme Court ruling is in line with the people’s yearnings and hunger for good governance. The autonomy of the local government whose monthly allocation will now come directly from the federation account should not be a blank cheque for corruption and embezzlement of funds, but rather an opportunity to serve the people better, and ensure that development takes place at the grassroots uninterrupted. We want to see a paradigm shift, in which case, primary health care, road maintenance, education, provision of pipe borne water in the rural areas, prompt payment of council wages and allowances, among other statutory responsibilities of the local councils are delivered for the overall benefit of the rural dwellers.
Conversely, this is not also the time to further deepen corruption. Suffice to say that the Council Chairmen must have learnt some lessons from their paymasters, prior to this iconic court ruling. While we congratulate Nigerians and hail the autonomy granted local councils, we want to see unprecedented development across the 774 Local Government Areas. The excuse of paucity of funds to carry out people-oriented projects, a major issue before the judgement, should no longer be the case.