CCIDESOR calls for collective efforts to rescue comatose LG system
The Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) has called for collective efforts of stakeholders and Nigerians to rescue the Local Government (LG) system from it present comatose state.
The Executive Director of CCIDESOR, Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, made the call in a media briefing on Wednesday in Enugu.
Ononamadu noted that the root cause of this failure lied in the absence of true financial, administrative, and political autonomy for LGA as evidence from CCIDESOR’s and Situationroom field monitoring of capital projects analysis across selected LGAs in South-East.
He said that the recent analysis revealed that: allocated funds are not translating into visible development capital projects; but are limited, poorly prioritised, or misaligned core constitutional responsibilities—primary education, primary healthcare, and agriculture—are neglected.
The executive director called for urgent constitutional reforms, particularly in the amendment of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, to guarantee full autonomy of LGAs and establish a citizen-driven accountability framework.
He noted that current delay in local government autonomy is not a neutral decision—it actively sustains a system that enables: fraud, waste, abuse, poverty and underdevelopment.
Ononamadu, however, said that conversely, timely constitutional reform would block major leakages of public funds, strengthen accountability systems and deliver measurable development outcomes at the grassroots.
He made a call to action on President Bola Tinubu to drive structural and constitutional reforms and champion the urgent amendment of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution to abolish the State Joint Local Government Account and guarantee direct allocation to LGAs.
“The president should provide executive backing; issue clear policy directives supporting LGA autonomy and zero tolerance for state interference in LGA funds and mobilise political consensus on the matter among others,” he said.
Ononamadu urged the national assembly to fast-track constitutional amendment of Section 162 and other relevant provisions affecting LGA autonomy and legislate transparency mechanisms.
“Enact laws mandating compulsory publication of LGA budgets, allocations, and expenditures; strengthen oversight functions; conduct regular public hearings on LGA funding and utilization; and facilitate inclusive public consultations to ensure citizen input into the reform process.”
He urged state governments to transit from control to support of LG systems, immediately cease diversion or control of LGA funds through joint accounts and allow elected LG officials to operate independently without intimidation or undue influence.
“Review and amend state laws that undermine LGA autonomy, offer capacity-building support rather than financial control, and focus on state-level responsibilities while allowing LGAs to handle grassroots development,” he said.
The executive director said that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) should play critical watchdog and mobilisation role; intensify national and grassroots advocacy for LGA autonomy and accountability reforms, and expandibg independent tracking of LGA allocations, budgets, and project implementation.
“The CSOs should educate communities on their rights and tools for demanding accountability, produce evidence-based reports, generate and disseminate credible data to influence policy decisions, and strengthen alliances across CSOs, professional bodies, and community groups to amplify impact.”
Ononamadu called on the media to drive transparency and public awareness through investigative reporting: expose misuse, diversion, and underperformance in LGA fund utilization and educate citizens on LGA budgets, allocations, and their rights to accountability.
“Provide platforms for CSOs, experts, and citizens to discuss LGA autonomy; monitor and report on government commitments and actions regarding constitutional amendments and use data to tell compelling stories about gaps between allocations and development outcomes,” he said.
He called on citizens and communities to request access to LGA budgets, projects, and financial reports, attend town hall meetings, budget sessions, track implementation of local projects and report discrepancies.
“Leverage petitions, social media, and community platforms to demand accountability, elect leaders committed to transparency, service delivery, and community development,” he added.