Critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s Local Councils would converge on Abuja on Monday to deliberate on how to deepen accountability, democracy and good governance in nation’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The discussions would be part of a policy conversation convened by Agora Policy and five partners in response to the 11th July ruling of the Supreme Court which authorised direct disbursement of federation allocations to the local councils.
The apex court in the ruling affirmed that it is illegal for LGAs to be run by caretaker committees appointed by the state governors.
Put together with the support of MacArthur Foundation, the policy conversation is designed to tease out practical ways of ensuringl the implementation of the decision of the apex court to translate into positive changes in local government administration across the country, while significantly improving citizens’ welfare.
The event is organised by Agora Policy, an Abuja-based think tank, in partnership with the BudgIT Foundation, Yiaga Africa, the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Premium Times and The Cable, on the theme: “EnthroningAccountability in Local Governance in Nigeria.”
“Our considered view is that while financial autonomy to the LGAs is not a bad thing, that by itself might not change much if it is not undergirded by robust accountability mechanisms,” the founder of Agora, Waziri Adio, said in Abuja on Sunday.
“Financial autonomy should not be an end by itself, but a means to more effective governance, deeper democracy and better service delivery at the local level. However, there does not appear to be an automatic link between direct federation allocation to the LGAs and the improved performance that we expect. It is therefore important to spend time in identifying and thinking about how to emplace the other things that are needed to achieve more effective, more responsive and more impactful governance at the tier of government closest to the people.”
Mr. Adio said the policy conversation would feature dissections and deliberations on issues such as the state of local government administration and elections, the constraints and pathways to optimal performance in local councils, mechanisms for deepening participatory, accountable and inclusive governance at the local level, and best practices from within and outside the country on local governance and citizens’ engagement.
At the core of the deliberation will be a panel session, featuring the National President of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Aminu Maifata; a professor of political institutions, good governance and public policy at the University of Ibadan, Professor Remi Aiyede; Executive Director of Yiaga Africa; Mr. Samson Itodo, and the Executive Director of Invictus Africa, Ms. Bukky Shonibare. The session will be moderated by Ms. Nabilah Usman of Radio Now.
The event, which would also incorporate special interventions from experienced stakeholders, comments from participants and a drama presentation, would be held at the main auditorium of the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. The policy conversation is expected to be followed by a series of interventions by the partners and other key stakeholders on how to improve governance in Nigeria’s local councils.
