Isiyaku Ahmed
A broad coalition of governance experts, civil society leaders, and public-sector representatives have renewed calls for deepened transparency, accountability, and autonomy in Nigeria’s local government system.
This formed the core of a communique issued at the end of a recent public lecture organized by the Africa Centre for Transparency and Anti-Corruption Advocacy (AFRIC-TAAD), at the American Spaces, Murtala Muhammad Library, Kano.
The lecture, themed “The Future of Local Government in Nigeria: Balancing Autonomy with Transparency and Accountability,” brought together stakeholders from government, academia, youth organizations, community groups, and anti-corruption institutions.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry for Public Procurement, Project Monitoring and Evaluation; the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission; FIDAC; YOSPIS; Mufarka Youth Development Initiative; and the Arewa Ambassadors Forum, among others.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of AFRIC-TAAD highlighted the evolution of decentralization in Nigeria and stressed that local government remains the tier closest to the people.
He urged participants to champion reforms that promote openness, public participation, and corruption-free administration at the grassroots.
Representatives from the procurement ministry, anti-corruption commission, and the Kano State Open Government Partnership (OGP) delivered goodwill messages, each expressing commitment to strengthening inclusive and accountable governance across all 44 LGAs.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Abdussalam Muhammad Kani explored global reform models and domestic experiences that demonstrate the need to balance autonomy with transparency.
“From Kenya’s performance-based devolution to the Philippines’ citizen transparency boards and Kaduna’s open-budgeting model, the truth is clear, autonomy flourishes only when anchored on transparency and accountability,” he stated.
A panel session followed, featuring legal expert Nura Muhammad Ahmad, Esq., who examined the constitutional basis of local government autonomy, particularly its role in curbing corruption and political influence.
Zainab Nasir Ahmad, Executive Director of YOSPIS, emphasized citizens’ participation, insisting that communities must actively track budgets, monitor spending, and demand accountability to ensure meaningful grassroots development.
An interactive session allowed participants to raise pressing concerns on fiscal transparency, governance challenges, and community involvement. The communique captured several recommendations under three broad areas:
Recommendations included the enforcement of genuine direct funding to Local Government Areas (LGAs) in line with the existing Supreme Court judgment.
Stakeholders also called for the publication of monthly LGA allocations by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) to promote transparency.
They further recommended that LGAs submit mandatory monthly expenditure returns to the EFCC and ICPC, alongside strict enforcement of the NFIU’s 2019 financial autonomy guidelines.
In addition, they urged the repeal of State–LGA Joint Revenue laws and an immediate end to forced state-controlled joint projects.
Stakeholders at the forum urged the creation of a central public portal for Local Government Area (LGA) financial disclosures to enhance transparency and public oversight.
They also called for comprehensive forensic audits to identify and eliminate ghost workers and curb payroll fraud.
The stakeholders further emphasized the need to catalogue all LGA-owned properties and ensure their productive utilization.
They advocated for the development of LGA-specific, needs-driven development plans tailored to the priorities of local communities.
Additionally, they encouraged investments in viable revenue-generating ventures to strengthen the financial sustainability of LGAs.
Participants unanimously resolved to champion people-centered governance while strengthening collaboration among civil society groups, government agencies, and communities.
They pledged continued support for AFRIC-TAAD’s anti-corruption and open-governance advocacy.
AFRIC-TAAD restated that “Autonomy grants local governments the freedom to act; transparency earns them the trust to lead; and accountability secures their right to endure.”
