Civil Society Demands Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria

The Nigeria Civil Society Organizations, represented by Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, condemned the failure to implement full local government autonomy as mandated by a Supreme Court judgment. During a quarterly press briefing in Enugu, the group criticized state governments for their excessive control over local governments, which has hindered effective administration in areas such as road construction, schools, and hospitals.

They called for direct payments of local government allocations from the federal account to improve governance and accountability. The group emphasized the need to amend the constitution to eliminate ambiguities surrounding the joint account system and to strengthen local government financial mechanisms.

They argued that without empowering local governments, Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful economic recovery, highlighting the detrimental impact of state government influence on local governance.