LG financial autonomy, critical non-kinetic strategy to combat insecurity – CSO

A Civil Society Organisation has said that administrative and financial autonomy for Local Government Areas (LGAs) are critical, non-kinetic strategies to combatting insecurity and foster development.
The Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) Cordinator, Dr Emeka Ononammadu, in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR) made this known on Monday in Umuahia while unveiling the executive summary of the CSO’s policy brief on LGA autonomy.
The brief is titled “Local Government Autonomy and Improved Accountability A pathway to Rural Development, Economic Growth and Democratic Deepening in Nigeria”.

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Ononammadu said by controlling their own resources, LGAs can directly tackle the root causes of crime—poverty and lack of opportunity—at the community level.
”We must use a rare opportunity in the current political dispensation to correct actions which had ferailed LGAs’ progress for ages including insecurity.
”The rare political window open can secure constitutional reforms that can restore accountability and grassroots governance and save the country from further degeneration.
”The disconnect between development at the local government levels and current local government allocations which President Bola Tinubu had also observed is the result of lack of true financial, administrative and political autonomy at the LGAs,” Ononammadu said.
“This brief calls on the National Assembly for urgent constitutional reforms particularly the amendment of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution to guarantee full autonomy of LGAs and establish citizen-driven accountability framework,” Ononammadu said.
The CCIDESOR and NCSSR also called on the Tinubu to initiate immediate Constitutional amendment to remove states from LG accounts and to establish direct allocations mechanism to LGAs.
The group further urged the Federal Government to strengthen anti-corruption agencies’ oversight and develop a national accountability framework for LGAs.
They called on state governments to cease interfering in LGA administration and finances and to provide technical support rather than control to the LGAs.
The group called on Local Governments to publish budgets and financial reports regularly, engage citizens in participatory budgeting processes, strengthen internal accounting systems and prioritize constitutional responsibilities.
They further called on the media to investigate and report LGAs spendings, successes and failures, and to promote transparency narratives while amplifying citizens voices.

(NAN)

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