A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has urged Federal and state governments to ensure full implementation of executive orders and Supreme Court judgment on Local Government Areas (LGAs) financial autonomy.
This is contained in a communiqué issued on Friday in Enugu after a One-Day Training on Economic Literacy and Budget Accountability for Local Government Stakeholders held on Friday in Enugu.
The training was organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in collaboration with the Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
The communiqué said that after the training the CSOs, NULGE and participants at the training resolved that the joint account provision in the 1999 Constitution should be urgently expunged.
It noted that the Joint Accounts Committee (JAC), a remnant of military rule, had stifled development for decades within the LGAs.
According to the statement, political and financial autonomy for all 774 local governments must be restored to reduce Nigeria’s economic, political and security challenges by over 70 per cent.
“That since there is a Federal revenue allocation, there should be a monthly state revenue allocation from the internally generated revenues by each of the 36 states rather than struggle to take over the monthly Federal revenue allocation to LGAs.
“This is because states generate internal revenue from the LGAs that make up the state and as such are entitled to it for their development.
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“Citizens must be encouraged to engage in budget formation, monitoring, and evaluation to improve governance outcomes at Local government level.
“LGA budget copies must be publicly accessible in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (Section 2) which recommends for proactive disclosure of such governance documents,” it said.
The communiqué said that budgets should be inclusive and responsive to real community needs such as the need for quality health centres, schools, rural roads, and markets.
“Transparent budget execution and open procurement processes must be observed, ensuring value for money and support for the local economy.
“All government budgets are laws; thus, violating are breaking of the law which are financial crimes against the society,” it said.
The communiqué recommended that Federal and state governments should take steps to guarantee full autonomy for LGAs across the 36 states and Governors in South-East should prioritise LGA autonomy as bedrock of zonal development.
It said, “The activation of LGAs as functional, autonomous governance institutions is the only viable pathway to economic recovery and democratic renewal.
“Civil society, citizens, and the media must sustain advocacy and monitoring for transparent grassroots governance
“The President and National Assembly should single out the Joint Account Committee as an urgent constitutional amendment and partner with States to ensure that this provision is repealed before the end of 2026.
“CSOs should mobilise to advocate at both the National Assembly and State Assemblies to ensure that the LGAs are constitutionally granted full autonomy and stated as a full third tier of government in Nigeria.”
The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr Kene Ogbuzuru for Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room; Dr Emeka Ononamadu, Executive Director, CCIDESOR; Mr Emeka Nwanevu for CSO Representative and Mr Samuel Ani, Media/Religious Groups Representative and NULGE representative.
