An Abuja-based think tank, Agora Policy, in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation, has emphasised the urgent need for enhanced accountability, democracy, and good governance across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The call was made during a policy dialogue held in Abuja on “Enthroning Accountability in Local Governance in Nigeria.”
The founder of Agora Policy, Mr. Waziri Adio, highlighted the critical roles of LGAs in resource mobilisation, regulatory functions, and frontline security. He said that despite these responsibilities, the LGAs are the least trusted tier of government, suffering from low public confidence and engagement.
Citing data from a 2008 Afrobarometer survey, Adio said that there has been a significant decline in public trust: only 28% of respondents expressed confidence in LGAs in 2008, down from 58% in 2000. Additionally, civic participation had dwindled, with just 18% of citizens feeling involved in local governance by 2008.
“A recent survey found that only 22% of respondents believed LGAs used resources effectively, while a staggering 89% viewed them as corrupt,” Adio revealed. He also noted the widespread lack of interest in local governance, with many citizens unaware of their councillors’ identities and showing a preference for federal or state-level work over LGAs.
“This disinterest hampers the effective functioning of LGAs, which are essential for the optimal operation of Nigeria,” Adio stated. He stressed that reforming LGAs requires robust accountability mechanisms, including horizontal, vertical, and diagonal accountability, to ensure that representatives serve the people rather than themselves.
Adio advocated for participatory budgeting and suggested experimenting with direct democracy to boost citizen involvement and deepen democracy at the local level.
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