Ben Ezechime, Enugu
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on the Federal and state governments to fully implement existing executive orders and the Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for Local Government Areas (LGAs).
This call was contained in a communiqué issued in Enugu after a one-day training on Economic Literacy and Budget Accountability for Local Government Stakeholders, organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in collaboration with the Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
The communiqué stated that participants, including representatives of CSOs and NULGE, resolved that the joint account provision in the 1999 Constitution should be urgently expunged, describing the Joint Accounts Committee (JAC) as a remnant of military rule that has stifled local government development for decades.
According to the statement, restoring political and financial autonomy to all 774 local governments could reduce Nigeria’s economic, political, and security challenges by more than 70 per cent.
It further recommended that, in addition to federal revenue allocations, there should be monthly state revenue allocations from internally generated revenues to the LGAs.
“This is because states generate internal revenue from the LGAs that make up the state and, as such, are entitled to contribute to their development,” the communiqué stated.
Participants also emphasized the need for citizens to be actively involved in budget formulation, monitoring, and evaluation to enhance governance outcomes at the grassroots level.
They demanded that local government budgets be made publicly accessible in line with the Freedom of Information Act (Section 2), which mandates proactive disclosure of governance documents.
The communiqué further stressed that budgets must be inclusive and responsive to real community needs such as quality healthcare centres, schools, rural roads, and markets.
“Transparent budget execution and open procurement processes must be observed to ensure value for money and support for the local economy.
“All government budgets are laws; hence, violating them amounts to breaking the law and constitutes a financial crime against society,” the communiqué stated.
It recommended that both the Federal and state governments take concrete steps to guarantee full autonomy for LGAs across the 36 states, urging governors in the South East to prioritise local government autonomy as the foundation for regional development.
“The activation of LGAs as functional, autonomous governance institutions is the only viable pathway to economic recovery and democratic renewal,” the communiqué added.
It also urged civil society, citizens, and the media to sustain advocacy and monitoring for transparent grassroots governance.
Furthermore, it called on the President and the National Assembly to prioritise the amendment of the constitutional provision establishing the Joint Account Committee and ensure its repeal before the end of 2026.
The communiqué also tasked CSOs to mobilise advocacy efforts at both the National and State Assemblies to guarantee full constitutional recognition of LGAs as the third tier of government in Nigeria.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr. Kene Ogbuzuru for the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room; Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, Executive Director of CCIDESOR; Mr. Emeka Nwanevu, CSO representative; and Mr. Samuel Ani, Media/Religious Groups and NULGE representative.
