Nigerian govt pin points lack of financial autonomy as stalling growth of 774 LGAs

The Federal Government has admitted that the financial restrictions faced by the 774 Local Government Councils in the country is responsible for their stunted growth.

The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo, made the admittance, on Tuesday, at a 2-day workshop, with the theme: “Local Government Administration in Nigeria: Reviewing the Trajectories, Trends and Projections in Today’s Economic and Political Realities,” organised by the National Association of Chairmen of Local Government Service Commissions.

The Minister was represented at the event by the Director, Inter-governmental Affairs of the ministry, Patience Ehujo.

Jisalo stressed that the capacity of Councils to offer important services at the grassroots was badly affected by inadequate finance and infrastructure, and lack of autonomy.

He promised that government would revitalise the local government system by promoting empowered autonomy, capacity development, community engagement through frequent town hall meetings, robust implementation mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in resource allocation and utilisation at the local government level and collaborative partnerships.

The Minister said: “In terms of trends and realities, our local governments have faced a variety of difficulties in the midst of political and economic changes.

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“Their capacity to offer crucial services to grassroots communities has been hampered by financial restrictions, inadequate infrastructure and lack of autonomy.

“As a result, citizens are now frustrated and there is a likelihood that discontent will grow.”

In response, the Chairman of the National Association of Chairmen of Local Government Service Commissions, Bawa Sani, said: “We started this forum last year and the essence was to establish a relationship whereby the working class and the political class will come together, exchange ideas and fraternise with one another.

“It is also a forum where all the directors from all over the country will come together and discuss issues as they concern the civil service.

“With that, we can unify the rules and regulations such that what is obtainable in Jigawa, if you got to Bayelsa, you will see the same thing in terms of nomenclature and everything you can think of, as well as progression from one level to another, among others.”

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