By Muhammad Mamman
Former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has declared true independence for Nigeria’s local governments a pipe dream under the current Constitution. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise programme, Fashola argued that state assemblies’ control over local council laws creates an external stranglehold that undermines any notion of autonomy.
“It’s time for a proper debate on whether we truly want independent local governments,” Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said. “The Constitution doesn’t allow it. State assemblies dictate how councils function, which clashes with the very idea of autonomy—acting without outside interference.”
Fashola, a former Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, pointed out that state governments’ grip on land—an essential resource for local councils to deliver infrastructure like abattoirs, cemeteries, primary schools, and healthcare centres—further erodes their freedom. “The Constitution’s Fourth Schedule lists local government duties, but without control over land, how can they function independently?” he asked.
He also linked the creation of state-local joint accounts to past failures, noting that before 1999, many councils defaulted on salaries and pensions for teachers and healthcare workers. “The joint account was meant to ensure oversight, but now some state supervisors are as guilty as those they oversee,” he added.
On the Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling granting financial autonomy to local councils and barring governors from dissolving elected officials, Fashola said legal experts are divided on whether it holds up constitutionally. However, he hailed council elections as a step toward genuine independence.
“Nobody denies local governments need fixing,” he said, “but the current setup was never designed for true autonomy—it’s more about state oversight and collaboration.”
