As Nigeria edges closer to implementing financial autonomy for local governments, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to instruct anti-graft agencies to closely monitor local government spending to prevent the misappropriation of funds.
In a letter released on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oludare, called on the President to deploy the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to oversee the management of local government finances. The move, according to SERAP, is essential to ensuring transparency and accountability at the grassroots level as local governments prepare to receive direct funding from the Federation Account.
SERAP also requested that the Minister of Finance, Mr. Olawale Edun, be instructed to withhold federal allocations to states that fail to conduct free and fair local elections. The letter referenced a landmark Supreme Court ruling on July 11, 2024, which mandates that funds from the Federation Account be paid exclusively to democratically elected local government councils, in line with the provisions of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. The ruling underscores the need for local governance to be handled by elected officials, not caretaker committees appointed by state governors.
“Your government has a constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law and prevent the abuse of power by state governors,” SERAP stated. The advocacy group warned that political interference in local elections has effectively turned the process into a rubber-stamp exercise, with governors installing their preferred candidates, thus undermining democratic integrity and governance at the grassroots level.
SERAP further highlighted concerns over the “chronic mismanagement and corruption” surrounding federal allocations intended for local governments. Over the years, trillions of naira have been squandered, leaving many communities deprived of basic services and exacerbating poverty levels across the country.
SERAP’s letter echoes the sentiments recently expressed by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who criticised the current state of local elections, referring to them as mere “coronations” of ruling party candidates. Yakubu’s comments reflect widespread frustration over the lack of genuine democratic processes at the local level.
The advocacy group is calling for the swift enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling, which explicitly prohibits state governors from dissolving elected local councils and replacing them with caretaker committees. “Governors have no legal authority to control, manage, or disburse local government funds,” SERAP stated, referencing sections 162(3)(5) of the Nigerian Constitution.
As the Federal Government advances towards implementing local government financial autonomy, SERAP insists that strong oversight and enforcement mechanisms are crucial to ensure that the long-standing issues of corruption and political manipulation are addressed. The organisation’s call for action seeks to safeguard Nigeria’s fledgling democracy and ensure that local governments can serve their communities effectively, free from undue political interference.
