30/09/2025
Local Government Autonomy or Presidency Dictatorship?
Some months ago, I had written concerning the ostensible benefaction that Tinubu Administration bestowed upon Nigeria; though astute observers familiar with Federalism recognize it was not a benefaction but a blatant affront to everything Federalism espouses; but many Nigerians aren't cognizant of this, they celebrated it due to their ignorance of the concept of Federalism! But with what is transpiring in Osun, Nigerians can discern that there's nothing like Local Government autonomy but a shrewd political tactic for the federal government of Tinubu to control dexterously all the 774 Local Governments and utilize that as a political stratagem to combat any opposition State, and so far so good; he has achieved it in Rivers State and he is achieving it in Osun.
For the benefit of those that don't know; local government autonomy is a frontal assault on Federalism, according to the 1999 Constitution, it is the only States that are recognized as federating units, with LGAs meant to be administered under state laws and democratically governed. Granting LGAs direct funding from the federal government would bypass states, effectively transmogrifying Nigeria into a unitary system, since our constitution stipulates that we should have Federal and State Government; in which local governments should be the creation of State, granting local government autonomy is metamorphosing Nigeria into a unitary system of government; just like Ironsi did in 1966.
Aside the fact that the powers that Federal Government has are plethora, with about 68 legislative items on the exclusive list that can only be legislated on by the Federal Government; local government autonomy in the real sense has rendered the State Governments ineffectual. So; having known the above, let me solidify my argument; we have 36 States in the country; and according to the June 2024 Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy; all the 774 local governments should receive their funds directly from the federal government, and since then, as I write this, the judgment hasn't been efficacious, for instance, State Governments still receive the allocations for the Local government; aside the opposition State that Tinubu wants to subjugate by force, for instance since about 8 months, Tinubu has refused to release the allocation of Osun State Local Government, and in fact, there is a rumor that he had released it for private citizens that aren't Local Government officials, this is a known tactic, Tinubu wants to be a dictator that controls everything, it's just lamentable that this same Tinubu used to be an advocate of true federalism but just like Montesquieu had said, power corrupts; but absolute power corrupts absolutely!
In Lagos, where they call Tinubu landlord, despite the fact there are only 20 local governments: Sanwo just conducted elections in 20 local government and additional 37 LCDA and in fact, Sanwo was the one that dictated who to appoint or not, and he still collects the allocation for them but because Nigeria's Emperor wants to punish Adeleke and Osun people for voting against him in 2023, he decided to withhold the allocation just to force the Governor to submit by force. I had argued that we can only have Democratically elected chairmen and councillors but anything Autonomy is antithetical to Federalism and everything it stands for, in fact, like I used to counter the argument of people who used to argue that the Governors are too powerful; I must say, it is better to have 36 mini potentates than to have only one person acting like an omnipotent being, I knew that the local government autonomy was an avenue to Govern Nigeria Unilaterally and I still hold the position that local government autonomy is a ruse!
Adedapo Taiwo Emmanuel (Network) Writes from Osogbo Osun State
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