The coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, has emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the management of local government resources following the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments.
While welcoming the development on Friday, Mulade cautioned that direct payment to local governments may not necessarily translate to genuine development at the grassroots level due to the influence of state governors on local government chairmen.
He stressed that transparent and accountable management of resources is crucial to ensure that the benefits of autonomy are realized according to Nigerian Tribune.
Mulade suggested that INEC should conduct all elections into local governments to ensure independence and that monthly allocations to local governments should be published to ensure transparency and accountability.
He also emphasized the importance of grassroots monitoring of resources to ensure development.
The Supreme Court judgment has been widely welcomed as a step towards deepening democracy in Nigeria. However, Mulade’s comments highlight the need for careful implementation and monitoring to ensure that local government autonomy leads to genuine development and benefits the people.
Mulade’s statement underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in ensuring that local government autonomy achieves its intended purpose.
“Firstly, it’s a welcome development to deepen our democracy. However, it is not a solution to the current democratic process in Nigeria because paying the money directly to local government wouldn’t translate into any form of genuine people-oriented development because over 99 per cent of local chairmen are tools in the hands of the sitting governors.
“Secondly, if we must give some level of total independence to LG, I will suggest that INEC should conduct all elections into LGs.
“Thirdly, to avoid mismanagement and misapplication, monthly allocation must be published for transparency and accountability to enable the grassroots to monitor their resources for development.
“Finally, it is imperative to state that with this judgement, LGs will create opportunities for the grassroots and must be accountable to the people,” he asserted.