More than a year after Nigeria’s local government areas (LGAs) secured a landmark Supreme Court ruling affirming their autonomy, state governors still appear to maintain firm control over these grassroots institutions. In July 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a historic judgment that granted full financial and administrative independence to the country’s 774 local councils. The verdict declared unconstitutional the frequent interference of state governments in local administration. Specifically, it prohibited governors from: Despite this pronouncement, implementation has remained elusive. This delay has reignited calls from some political actors that the entire local government system in Nigeria should be abolished. Adamu Garba Calls for LG Scrapping Adamu Garba, a former presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently renewed the controversial debate by urging that local governments be scrapped altogether. According to him, LGAs are mere channels exploited by state governors to divert public funds. Garba proposed that the powers of local governments be handed over to traditional rulers, arguing that these custodians of culture and tradition are better positioned to serve local communities effectively. He stated: Action Alliance Opposes LG Scrapping However, not all stakeholders share this view. Kenneth Udeze, National Chairman of Action Alliance (AA), strongly rejected Garba’s position. Speaking with LMSINT Media, Udeze emphasized that local governments remain vital in delivering the dividends of democracy to rural communities. According to him, the real problem lies in bad governance and corruption, not the structure of local government itself. Udeze stressed: He further revealed that his own LGA recently received an allocation of over ₦400 million, yet citizens saw little to no development because funds were allegedly diverted by the state. Legal Perspective: Scrapping LGs Not in Nigeria’s Interest Activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam also opposed the idea of abolishing LGAs. He described such a move as “self-serving” and argued that it only benefits individuals seeking political or financial control. Idam noted that Section 7 of the Nigerian Constitution clearly establishes the existence of local governments and guarantees their autonomy. He further highlighted the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling (AGF vs Attorneys-General of the 36 States), which reinforced this constitutional mandate. According to him: Idam concluded by questioning why the Supreme Court judgment has not been enforced, stressing that its decisions are binding and must be obeyed by all levels of government. The Way Forward The debate over whether Nigeria should scrap local governments or strengthen them reflects the ongoing struggle between constitutional governance and political realities. While critics like Adamu Garba believe LGAs are ineffective and prone to abuse, others argue that they remain a necessary tool for grassroots democracy. The consensus among reformists, however, is that Nigeria needs genuine electoral reforms, direct allocation of funds, and stronger enforcement of judicial rulings to make local governments truly effective. For now, the question remains: Will Nigeria strengthen its third tier of government, or will it bow to calls for restructuring in favor of traditional institutions?
