No Effective Governance Without Full Local Government Autonomy, Says Gbajabiamila

Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that Nigeria cannot achieve effective governance without full autonomy for local government councils. Speaking to journalists after casting his vote in Saturday’s local government elections in Lagos, Gbajabiamila described the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling on local government autonomy as a welcome development but stressed that proper implementation remains essential. “There can be no effective governance without full local government autonomy,” he stated. “The Supreme Court judgment was well received by everybody, but execution is key. Dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s is what we’re now working on. I believe, in a matter of time, we will realise full autonomy.” He said the implementation process is ongoing and assured that the federal government is committed to ensuring that LGAs function independently, especially in terms of finance and administration. Gbajabiamila also expressed concern over the low voter turnout observed in the Lagos polls, urging citizens to take local elections seriously as the officials elected at this level have the most immediate impact on their daily lives. “It’s unfortunate that voter turnout is not encouraging. Local government elections are the most important to the people. These are the officials who handle community-level issues, yet many people don’t come out to vote,” he said. The Supreme Court, in July 2024, ruled that the 774 local governments in the country must receive their allocations directly from the Federation Account. The judgment was aimed at stopping state governments from withholding or mismanaging funds meant for LGAs. While the decision has been widely praised, its implementation has been slow in several states, as resistance persists from some governors and state assemblies reluctant to cede control over local administration. Gbajabiamila acknowledged the challenges but maintained optimism, saying that Nigeria is gradually moving toward a more functional and decentralized system of governance. He called on stakeholders, civil society, and the general public to support the transition and push for full compliance with the Supreme Court ruling, noting that true federalism begins at the grassroots.