The Federal Government has restated its plan to restore full autonomy to local councils in Nigeria.
Minister Mohammed Idris says President Tinubu sees grassroots governance as key to development.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strong commitment to granting full autonomy to local government councils as part of efforts to deepen democratic values and promote grassroots development across Nigeria.
Idris made the statement on Friday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by members of the National Forum of Ex-Councilors to his office.
Describing local government councils as the closest tier of government to the people, Idris emphasized the importance of empowering them politically and financially.
“The local government, which is the third tier of government, is actually the closest to the people of Nigeria. That is why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his wisdom, revisited the issue of autonomy for the local government councils,” he said.
He noted that the Attorney General of the Federation had previously approached the Supreme Court to seek legal clarity on the matter, which resulted in a landmark ruling affirming the constitutional basis for local government autonomy.
According to the Minister, the ruling reaffirmed that local councils should be independent and fully functional in their roles.
“Their autonomy and ability to function very well will not only strengthen democracy at the grassroots but also support broader national development,” he added.
Reflecting on past successes, Idris said local councils had once played a more prominent role in governance. However, he observed that their influence has been significantly reduced in recent years, a development he described as detrimental to the democratic process.
“Over the years, we have witnessed a steady erosion of the capacity of local government councils to function as intended by our Constitution,” he said.
Idris stressed that President Tinubu, as a long-standing advocate of democracy, believes that revitalizing local government structures is key to achieving stronger democratic governance in Nigeria. He called on state governors to work collaboratively with the federal government in restoring the third tier of government to its original purpose.
He also used the occasion to commend the former councilors for their continued support of democracy and encouraged them to become advocates of the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda.
“You are 70,000 strong across the country and spread across party lines. We need you to go back to your communities and help explain the reforms that are ongoing under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he urged.
Idris acknowledged that some of the reforms may be tough initially, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the exchange rate, but he emphasized that these steps are already generating positive results.
He noted that the government’s fiscal savings from these changes have significantly increased revenue allocations to both states and local governments, enabling more developmental projects to be undertaken at the grassroots level.
Additionally, he highlighted the creation of Development Commissions in all geo-political zones as part of a broader strategy to ensure inclusive national growth.
In appreciation of his contributions, the Minister was presented with a “People-Oriented Award” by the ex-councillors. He thanked them for the recognition and said it would motivate him to continue serving the people with renewed energy and focus.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Forum’s Assistant Secretary, Mr. Cole Michaels, praised the Minister for revitalizing public communication agencies and for consistently projecting the policies and achievements of the Tinubu-led government to Nigerians.
The delegation, led by the Forum’s President, Mr. Auwal Kassim Hassan, included representatives from various states who commended the Minister’s role in strengthening democratic governance and promoting civic awareness nationwide.
