Alli Promises Financial Autonomy for Oyo Local Governments

Sharafadeen Alli, the APC governorship candidate for Oyo State, pledged to guarantee financial autonomy for local government councils if elected in 2027. He made this commitment on Tuesday during a keynote address at Obafemi Awolowo University, marking the 50th anniversary of the 1976 local government reform in Nigeria.

Alli emphasized that financial autonomy is crucial for effective local governance, which he described as foundational for sustainable development. He noted that despite constitutional recognition, local governments continue to perform below expectations due to political interference, weak financial independence, and inadequate administrative capacity.

Alli called for the abolition of the state-local government joint account system and urged state governments to minimize unnecessary interference in local governance. He also advocated for the development of partnerships to support capacity building and the implementation of digital governance initiatives across local councils.

The conference featured reflections on the evolution of local government administration in Africa and recognized contributions to grassroots development.