The Local Government Fiscal Accountability Bill 2024: A Step Toward Grassroots Transparency And Autonomy

The Local Government Fiscal Accountability Bill 2024 (SB594), sponsored by Senator Saliu Mustapha of Kwara Central, comes at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s governance landscape.

With the Supreme Court recently resolving tensions between the Federal Government and the 36 state governors over local government administration, this bill provides a crucial framework for enhancing accountability and autonomy at the grassroots level.

The Federal Government, through Attorney General of the Federation Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had earlier filed a suit at the Supreme Court to address allegations of state interference in local government operations.

The AGF sought an order to prevent governors from arbitrarily dissolving elected local government councils and to ensure that monthly allocations are paid directly to Local Government Areas (LGAs) from the Federation Account.

State governors, however, denied these allegations, claiming that local government autonomy was already in effect and defending the State Joint Local Government Account (SLJA) by referencing Section 162(6&8) of the Constitution.

They also challenged the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction over the matter. Ultimately, the Federal Government prevailed, and local governments were directed to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for direct allocation payments. This landmark ruling has been widely celebrated as a victory for grassroots development.

Good governance is considered the hallmark of democracy and rests on key principles, including the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and citizen participation.

A lack of adherence to the rule of law, along with the absence of institutionalized transparency and accountability, has historically hindered Nigeria’s development and fueled corruption.

The maximisation of the gain of this reform, demand activation of good governance elements at the local government level. This places pivotal roles on government and non governmental organisations in the business of Nation building.

For instance, A Civil society organizations like the Elite Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSud) in Kwara State have been at the forefront of advocating for the full implementation of the Supreme Court judgment to enhance good governance at local councils.

Similarly, Senator Saliu Mustapha has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering good governance and strengthening grassroots democracy with his Local Government Fiscal Accountability Bill 2024.

The bill reflects his advocacy for transparency, accountability, and the independence of local councils.

This bill, if passed, has the potential to
Enhance Public Participation: With transparent financial data, citizens can engage in informed discussions on budget priorities, development projects, and service delivery.

Strengthen Local Government Autonomy: Public scrutiny of financial activities will encourage local council chairmen to be more accountable and prudent in their spending.

Promote Institutional Reforms: The bill aims to foster trust in leadership and push for systemic changes to improve governance practices at the local level.

With the bill, Senator Mustapha stands out as a lawmaker dedicated to promoting democracy and good governance at the grassroots.

The bill will significantly reinforce local government autonomy and support the efforts of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Federal Government in securing financial independence for local councils.

In conclusion, the _Local Government Fiscal Accountability Bill_ is a transformative measure designed to address systemic challenges in local governance.

By institutionalizing transparency, enhancing autonomy, and encouraging citizen participation, the bill has the potential to revolutionize grassroots governance in Nigeria.

Its passage would not only advance local government independence but also establish Senator Mustapha as a pivotal figure in driving democratic reforms and accountability in governance.

Comrade Aina Oluwole (HOD)

Ilorin,  Kwara State