NULGE, CSOs Raise Alarm Over Local Government Autonomy, Blame Governors for Weak Grassroots Development
By The Analyst Online Media
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has raised concerns over the continued control of local government finances, alleging that local councils are not receiving Federation Account allocations directly as constitutionally envisaged.
The union’s position has renewed debate over the effectiveness of local government administration and the extent to which financial dependence on state governments is undermining development at the grassroots.
NULGE argued that local governments require genuine financial autonomy to effectively discharge their responsibilities and respond to the needs of residents in rural communities.
Civil society organisations have similarly criticised what they described as excessive control of local government resources by state authorities, arguing that the situation has contributed to poor infrastructure, weak service delivery and limited development across many communities.
According to the CSOs, local governments are closest to the people and should have sufficient financial and administrative independence to provide basic services, including primary healthcare, rural roads, sanitation, markets and other essential infrastructure.
They maintained that without effective accountability mechanisms and transparent access to public funds, the constitutional role of local governments would remain largely theoretical.
The development comes amid renewed national attention on local government autonomy and the need to strengthen grassroots governance.
Stakeholders have therefore called for greater transparency in the disbursement and utilisation of local government funds, alongside stronger monitoring mechanisms to ensure that allocations meant for communities are used for their intended purposes.
They also urged state and local government authorities to prioritise the welfare of citizens over political considerations, stressing that effective grassroots governance remains critical to Nigeria’s broader development.
The Analyst Online Media understands that the debate over local government financial autonomy remains central to ongoing efforts to improve accountability, service delivery and democratic governance at the grassroots.