Local Government Autonomy: A Mirage?

The recent signing of the Local Government Autonomy Act by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, hailed as a transformative step toward empowering Nigeria’s local councils, is now clouded by controversy as reports emerge that state governors are exploiting the law to maintain control over local government elections. The law, intended to grant financial and administrative independence to local governments, has sparked hopes for grassroots development but is already being undermined by state governors seeking to manipulate local elections for their political gain.

On the surface, the Local Government Autonomy Act, signed into law by President Tinubu in October 2023, appears to be a landmark achievement in Nigerian governance. By eliminating the State Joint Local Government Account (SJLGA), the law ensures that local councils receive their federal allocations directly, without interference from state governments. This was seen as a long-overdue step to give local governments the independence needed to execute grassroots development projects and improve service delivery.

However, the autonomy that many believed would breathe new life into local councils is now being viewed by critics as a “mirage,” as state governors continue to wield undue influence over local government affairs, particularly in the conduct of elections.

While the new law stipulates that local government elections must be held regularly and transparently, many state governors have allegedly found ways to manipulate the electoral process, ensuring that their loyalists are installed in power. In some states, local government elections have been marred by widespread irregularities, including voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, and the appointment of handpicked candidates by the ruling party.

For years, governors have taken advantage of their control over local councils by appointing “caretaker committees” rather than allowing for democratic elections. Even under the new law, governors are reportedly influencing the electoral commissions within their states to tilt elections in favor of their allies, ensuring that local governments remain under their control despite the supposed autonomy.

In a recent example from one of Nigeria’s southwestern states, opposition parties raised concerns that the state governor had used state machinery to rig local elections in favor of his party’s candidates. Multiple reports indicated a lack of transparency, delayed voting materials, and heavily skewed results, leading many to question whether the new law can truly deliver the democratic reforms it promised.

While the Local Government Autonomy Act was designed to end the political stranglehold of state governors over local councils, it is becoming increasingly clear that the autonomy envisioned by the law may remain a mirage unless systemic reforms are made. The continued manipulation of local elections by governors undermines the essence of local government autonomy, leaving many councils unable to function independently.

Dr. Segun Adedeji, a political analyst, expressed concerns about the situation. “It is worrying that governors are still finding ways to hijack the local election process despite the autonomy law. What we are seeing is autonomy on paper, but in reality, local councils remain tools of the state governments. Without genuine electoral reforms, we may never see the full benefits of this law,” Adedeji stated.

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State governors have long viewed local governments as extensions of their political influence. By controlling local councils, they can direct federal allocations, use council officials to build political patronage networks, and consolidate power during election cycles. The manipulation of local elections is seen as a way for governors to maintain control over these resources and ensure that local governments remain subservient.

In many cases, local elections are postponed indefinitely, and when they do take place, they are often regarded as a formality, with opposition parties and independent candidates struggling to compete against the might of the ruling state apparatus. As a result, true local government autonomy remains elusive, and grassroots governance continues to suffer.

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To achieve genuine local government autonomy, there are growing calls for the reform of state electoral commissions, which are often under the control of the governor. Civil society organizations are advocating for the establishment of an independent national body to oversee local government elections, ensuring that they are free and fair. Additionally, there are calls for greater transparency in the allocation of federal funds to local governments, with mechanisms put in place to monitor the use of these funds and prevent corruption.

Professor Amina Yusuf, a governance expert, believes that the Local Government Autonomy Act is a step in the right direction but must be backed by strong enforcement mechanisms. “The law itself is significant, but without robust checks and balances, governors will continue to manipulate the system. Local government elections must be protected from political interference, and local councils must be given the resources and capacity to operate independently,” she explained.

The signing of the Local Government Autonomy Act by President Bola Tinubu was supposed to herald a new era of grassroots democracy and development in Nigeria. However, the ongoing manipulation of local government elections by state governors is casting a shadow over these reforms. As long as governors continue to exploit the electoral process, local government autonomy will remain a mirage, and the dream of a truly independent third tier of government may never fully materialize.

The question now is whether Nigeria’s political system can rise to the challenge of enforcing the spirit of the new law or whether local government autonomy will remain another unfulfilled promise in the country’s democratic evolution.