REIMAGINING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY AS INSTRUMENT FOR STRENTHENING OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria has been grappling with local government reforms for many years, indeed, since independence in 1960, without a satisfactory result. With the ascendancy of constitutional democracy in Nigeria, it is not in doubt that most commentators and writers agree that what is needed for democratic local government administration to thrive is autonomy in the three facets of political, financial and administrative control of local governments. This requires constitutional and legal re-structuralisation as well as democratic acculturation. Unfortunately, all the constitutional making and reviews so far undertaken, left the local government system under the imposing control of the states. The State Governors have unashamedly treated the local government councils as subservient appendages, thereby stiff ling the dividends of democracy and the growth of democratic culture at the local level. The recent effort of the Supreme Court to enhance financial autonomy of Local Government Councils in Nigeria, while being commendable, is a tip of the iceberg of what needs to be done to enthrone the desired autonomy. Adopting the doctrinal research methodology, this paper espouses the reforms that ought to be carried out in the system of local government in order to achieve democratic and responsive autonomous local governance. It suggested that necessary constitutional and legal review, to provide for independent structure of local governments and for independent institutions to oversee the system, be established.