The local government councils in Nigeria are currently facing severe financial challenges, leading to their inability to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities at the grassroots level. This situation is largely attributed to the actions and inactions of state governors. The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has accused state governors of undermining the third tier of government, thereby hampering their ability to effectively cater to the needs of the people at the local level.
Investigations reveal that many local government council headquarters are in a state of disrepair, and funding for these councils has become difficult due to state governors diverting the funds allocated to them. NULGE claims that 34 out of the 36 state governors have been diverting local government funds, leaving the councils with insufficient funds to carry out developmental projects and provide essential services to their communities.
NULGE also highlights that only two states, Rivers and Jigawa, have not been implicated in this fund diversion, while the rest of the governors have allegedly found ways to manipulate guidelines set by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to continue redirecting the funds.
The consequences of these financial difficulties are evident in the local government councils’ inability to perform basic functions such as road construction and maintenance, healthcare, waste disposal, and infrastructure development. Many council secretariats are in a state of disrepair, lacking basic amenities and proper maintenance.
Local government elections have also been a contentious issue, with some governors appointing sole administrators instead of holding proper elections. This situation has been criticized for depriving the grassroots level of accountable and democratic leadership.
Efforts have been made at the federal level to grant financial autonomy to local governments, but challenges persist. In 2022, former President Muhammadu Buhari signed an Executive Order granting financial autonomy to the judiciary, legislature, and local governments. This order mandated that the allocations of the local governments be included in the first-line charge of state budgets, but the implementation remains complex due to the influence of state governors.
The plight of local government councils reflects a larger issue of power dynamics between state and federal governments in Nigeria, leading to challenges in governance, resource allocation, and service delivery.