Senate pushes for LG autonomy, urges urges Tinubu to restore powers

The Nigerian Senate has called on President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the autonomy of local government councils and cease further allocation of funds to caretaker committee-led local government areas.

The resolution was made after deliberations on a motion presented by Senator Suleiman Kawu (NNPP, Kano).

The motion, titled ‘Urgent call on the president to resuscitate the local government system in Nigeria,’ urged President Tinubu to advocate for full autonomy for local governments nationwide.

Senator Kawu emphasized the pressing challenges faced by Nigeria, including security threats, rural-urban migration, infrastructure decay, and widespread unemployment.

He asserted that empowering local governments is essential for a brighter future for all Nigerians.

The Senate also urged President Tinubu to leverage his leadership and influence to encourage federating units and other stakeholders to embrace the vision of full local government autonomy.

”This includes advocating for constitutional amendments that guarantee genuine independence for local governments, granting them control over resources, decision-making authority, and development planning,” Senator Kawu noted.

He highlighted the hurdles encountered in achieving the objectives of the local government system, including erosion of autonomy, financial limitations, corruption, and mismanagement.

He also expressed concern that some governors have obstructed efforts to grant autonomy to local governments through constitutional amendments.

Contributing to the discussion, Senators Ahmad Lawan and Orji Uzor Kalu emphasized the importance of effective local government systems guaranteed by the constitution.

They stressed the need to enhance the capacity of local government officials and ensure the return of funds to local government councils.

On his part, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau commended the motion, stating that ”it aligns with senators’ commitment to improving the local government system.”

The Senate’s resolution further stressed ”the importance of restoring local government autonomy to address governance challenges and promote grassroots development in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the Senate has taken steps to revive and complete the long-abandoned Abuja Centenary Economic City project situated along Airport Road in the nation’s capital.

Speaking on the resolution, Lola Ashiru, the senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District in the 9th Senate, highlighted the significance of the project, comparing it to model smart cities like Dubai, Monaco, and Singapore.
Expressing concerns over the project’s prolonged stagnation, Senator Ashiru emphasized the need for regulatory clarity and efficient implementation to align with its original vision.