A former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has emphasized the need for local government autonomy in Nigeria to achieve the desired development plans for its teeming population. She made this call at the maiden virtual Democracy Dialogue themed ‘Promoting Sustainable Development Models for Effective Local Governance.’
Ezekwesili stressed that Nigeria’s problems cannot be solved from the top cadre of governance alone, and that the grassroots must be involved. She highlighted the need for structural solutions to address the country’s serious structural challenges in democracy and governance.
Other speakers at the event, including social activist Aisha Yesufu, Executive Chairman of Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area in Lagos Olusesan Daini, Executive Director of Advocate for Good Governance Sesugh Akume, and founder of BudgIT Seun Onigbinde, also emphasized the importance of local government autonomy, citizen inclusion, and decentralization of power.
They called for direct funding for local governments, tracking of government performance, and social accountability to ensure effective local governance and sustainable development. The speakers agreed that the current centralized system is restricting the functionality of local governments and hindering the country’s progress.
The event aimed to compel key political and electoral reform actions for credible, transparent, free, and fair elections by the executive, legislature, Independent National Electoral Commission, and the security establishment.