There is growing concern about the management of funds at Nigeria’s local government areas (LGAs), especially following a recent Supreme Court ruling granting them full financial autonomy in July.
BudgIT, a civic organization, reported on Monday that N17.5 trillion allocated to LGAs between 2014 and June 2024 remains unaccounted for, raising alarms about potential corruption.
During a policy dialogue on “Enthroning Accountability in Local Governance,” Ayomide Ladipo of BudgIT highlighted that LGAs scored poorly on transparency measures, with a 31.25% rating on public website integrity and zero in critical areas such as financials and anti-corruption.
Ladipo stressed the need for robust citizen participation, periodic elections, and improved fiscal management training for LG officials.
Waziri Adio of Agora Policy noted a significant drop in public trust in LGAs, citing a 2008 Afrobarometer survey.
He emphasized that citizen engagement is crucial for improving local governance, urging people to actively participate and demand accountability.
Aminu Maifata, president of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), announced plans to develop a financial framework to enhance accountability.
He stressed the need for proper bookkeeping, audits, and transparent financial systems at the local level.
Samson Itodo, executive director of Yaiga, argued against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducting local government elections due to its operational capacity.
He recommended empowering State Electoral Commissions (SECs) to handle these elections to preserve local autonomy.
Professor Remi Aiyede from the University of Ibadan called for political negotiation between federal and state governments to effectively implement LG autonomy, addressing concerns from state governors about the Supreme Court ruling.
The dialogue underscored the importance of effective financial management, transparency, and citizen involvement to ensure that LG autonomy achieves its intended goals without exacerbating corruption.
