By Mercy Gadia
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, honorable Benjamin Kalu, has emphasized the urgent need for local government autonomy to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and enhance service delivery at the grassroots level.
Speaking on Monday at the National Dialogue on Local Government Reform, held in Abuja, Deputy Speaker highlighted the importance of addressing critical governance challenges, including limited financial independence, weakened administrative capacity, and the need for constitutional amendments to empower local governments.
The event, supported by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), comes on the heels of a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming that local governments must be democratically elected and directly receive their statutory allocations. This landmark decision, the Deputy Speaker noted, offers a unique opportunity to address long-standing issues within local government administration.
“Today, we chart a clear and actionable path towards local government autonomy,” Kalu said
“Achieving these reforms requires a coordinated effort at every level of governance, ensuring that local governments are truly independent and effective partners in our national governance structure.”
The dialogue seeks to foster collaboration among federal and state governments, lawmakers, and local communities, all with the aim of delivering a governance system that is equitable, inclusive, and accountable.
Kalu urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure that local governments are empowered to serve their constituencies and contribute to Nigeria’s sustainable development.
The conversation is expected to result in concrete steps towards constitutional amendments and the creation of advocacy roadmaps for reform, with the goal of making local governments more responsive to the needs of Nigerians across the country.
The Deputy Speaker concluded by calling for a collective commitment to building a future where local governments are pillars of democracy and agents of positive change in communities nationwide. “Let us work together to ensure that the outcomes of this dialogue resonate far beyond these walls,” he said.