Ruling on Local Government Autonomy: WAMAC Urges Stakeholders to Rise to the Occasion

[Abuja, Nigeria – July 12, 2024] – Anticorruption Crusader and good governance advocate, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC)], applauds Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling on the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria. We see this as a major breakthrough for democratic governance and grassroots development in the country.

As a non-governmental organization dedicated to advocating for accountability and the amplification of voices against corruption, using local languages, we are particularly encouraged by the ruling’s potential to empower citizens at the grassroots level. We believe that local government autonomy provides improved opportunities for community participation in governance, and enhanced public service delivery, with the subsequent development outcomes.

For too long, some local governments have been suffering under the undue control of their state governments, resulting in mismanagement of resources, widespread corruption, to the detriment of the people. The Supreme Court’s decision is now a turning point to put things right and ensure that local governments can operate independently and in the best interest of their communities.

The ruling has therefore set the scene for more accountable, transparent, and effective administration at the local level, so, we call on all stakeholders, including state governments, to fully respect and implement it. WAMAC also urges local government officials to rise to the occasion by fulfilling their obligation to serve their communities, shunning corruption and other anti-development activities.

In addition, we are concerned about inclusive communication and the need for every citizen to be carried along in relation to the information about the implications of local government autonomy. We believe that disseminating the info in local languages across Nigeria will help ensure that all citizens, regardless of their background, are informed and can actively participate in the governance process.

Once again, while we commend the Supreme Court for this judgement, WAMAC stands ready to support local governments in autonomy as we all work towards a Nigeria where amplified citizen’s voice shuts up corruption and speeds up development.

Zubair Abdurra’uf Idris 

Executive Director

July 12, 2024