By Oyeyemi Abolade
In a bid to confront the deepening challenges hindering effective grassroots governance in Nigeria, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have called for urgent reforms to strengthen local government autonomy.
This event happened during a one-day policy dialogue held at Abuja Continental on Wednesday 18th of June 2025.
The event, themed “Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: Effects of Corruption and Inefficiency on Good Governance in Local Administration,” brought together civil society groups, anti-corruption agencies, journalist and policy stakeholders to examine why local councils remain weak despite constitutional provisions.
Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), said autonomy must go beyond mere financial control to address deeper institutional and political constraints.
“The reality today is that financial autonomy alone has not translated into effective governance or independence at the local level. The root problem is far more systemic — involving deep-seated political interference, weak institutional structures, poor accountability mechanisms, and pervasive corruption,” Rafsanjani stated.
He lamented how local government systems in many states have been captured by state governments through appointments, budget control, and interference in electoral processes.
Rafsanjani emphasized that grassroots development cannot thrive where councils lack autonomy or legitimacy. “When local government fails,” he added, “the entire governance system loses legitimacy.”
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, highlighted similar concerns, noting that weak electoral processes and political patronage have undermined local governance.
“Support for individuals who may lack the necessary competence to effectively manage the affairs of local government councils — such as chairmen and councillors — has contributed to systemic weaknesses,” he said. “These challenges have significantly undermined efficiency and created opportunities for corrupt practices to flourish.”
He warned of the misuse of public funds under the guise of election preparations, and reiterated the ICPC’s commitment to fighting corruption at the third tier of government through its Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACCP-LG).
Speaking further,also referenced the recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of local government autonomy, stating that under Section 287(1) of the Constitution, all institutions — including anti-corruption agencies — are obligated to enforce the judgment.
“The doctrine of judicial precedent must be respected. We will not allow diversionary tactics to undermine the Supreme Court’s decision,” he added.
Delivering remarks on behalf of KAS Nigeria Resident Representative Marija Peran, Programme Manager Samson Adeniran echoed concerns about centralization and institutional weakness.
“Without credible and fair elections, local governance risks becoming a mere extension of centralized power, unable to meet grassroots needs,” Adeniran said.
He stressed the need to empower oversight institutions like auditors-general and local legislative councils, adding that governance must prioritize transparency and accountability.
Rafsanjani also raised alarms over legal attacks on anti-corruption agencies, urging stakeholders — including the judiciary and professional bodies like the Nigerian Bar Association — to protect institutional integrity.
“Moves by some governors to challenge the EFCC and ICPC in court are attempts to erode accountability,” he warned. “We must remain vigilant.”
The event concluded with a strong call for a holistic reform agenda to restore credibility and functionality to Nigeria’s local government system. Stakeholders agreed that legal, institutional, and electoral reforms must be accompanied by greater citizen participation and financial transparency.
“This conversation is about restoring trust, service delivery, and democracy at the grassroots,” Rafsanjani affirmed. “No tier of government is closer to the people than the local government
