In a recent interview on Channels Television, former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola, asserted that the concept of full autonomy for local governments in Nigeria is unrealistic under the current constitutional framework. Fashola emphasized that local governments were not designed to operate independently but rather under the supervision of state governments.
“As it stands today, it is unrealistic to expect autonomy for local governments created by the constitution. They were not meant to be autonomous. That is my view after a very close reading of certain provisions of the Constitution,” Fashola stated.
He highlighted that state houses of assembly are empowered to enact laws for local governments, which inherently contradicts the principle of autonomy. “If you look at the legal and ordinary meaning of the word autonomy, it suggests that you are acting independently without any outside influence or authority. And to this extent, the state house of assembly making laws for what and how a local government can function is in itself an external influence that contradicts the idea of autonomy,” he explained.
Fashola further elaborated that the constitutional provisions, such as Section 162, which deals with the state joint local government account, indicate a collaborative relationship between state and local governments rather than complete independence. He noted that up until 1999, local governments collected their funds directly from the federation account, but this changed with the introduction of the joint account system.
This perspective aligns with the views of other political figures who argue that granting full autonomy to local governments could disrupt the federal structure of governance in Nigeria. For instance, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has cautioned against local government autonomy, stating that it could lead to confusion in legislative, executive, and judicial functions, thereby weakening the essence of federalism.
However, this stance contrasts with recent developments, such as the Supreme Court's landmark judgment affirming the autonomy of Nigeria's 774 local governments. The court ordered that funds from the Federation Account be paid directly to local government accounts, barring state governors from interfering with these funds.
The debate over local government autonomy continues to be a contentious issue in Nigeria's political landscape, reflecting the ongoing struggle to balance effective grassroots governance with the principles of federalism.
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