President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has attributed Nigeria’s worsening insecurity to the deteriorating state of local governance. Speaking at a national discourse in Abuja on Monday, President Tinubu emphasized the need for robust governance at the grassroots level to enhance national security.
Represented by the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, President Tinubu stated, “The degradation and incapacitation of our local government system have significantly contributed to our developmental setbacks and our inability to effectively address national security threats.”
He highlighted the crucial role of local governments as frontline defenders against insecurity, noting their proximity to the people and their deep understanding of community needs. Tinubu called for community policing as a potential solution to the security challenges facing the nation.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), echoed the President’s sentiments. Fagbemi called for the dissolution of State Electoral Commissions, advocating for local government elections to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He criticized state governors for exploiting constitutional loopholes to undermine local governments, thereby stifling grassroots development.
Fagbemi pointed to the abuse of Section 7(1), 7(5), and 83(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which has allowed governors to impose their will on local governments. He condemned the use of state electoral commissions to conduct sham elections and the practice of appointing caretaker committees, which undermines local governance.
The Attorney General also criticized the misuse of state/local government joint accounts, which he said hampers local governments’ access to their rightful share of the Federation Account, thereby hindering their developmental capabilities.
“To achieve development at the grassroots, we need to scrap state independent electoral commissions and transfer their functions to INEC. The state commissions are mere appendages of incumbent governors and are at the root of local government administration problems in Nigeria,” Fagbemi argued.
Fagbemi’s remarks follow his recent lawsuit at the Supreme Court, seeking to prevent state governors from disbursing local government funds and disbanding local leaderships in favor of caretaker committees. He emphasized that the weak constitutional provisions have allowed state governments to hijack local revenues, undermining the financial autonomy of local governments and their ability to perform statutory responsibilities.
In conclusion, both President Tinubu and AGF Fagbemi called for significant reforms to restore the autonomy and effectiveness of local governments, ensuring they can contribute meaningfully to national security and development.
