The federal government has reiterated its dedication to strengthening local governance and ensuring the full implementation of local government autonomy in Nigeria. This commitment was reaffirmed by Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Rt. Hon. Zephaniah Bitrus Jisalo, at the Nigeria Local Government Development Summit held in Abuja.
Jisalo emphasized that a strong and effective local government system is the foundation of national progress. He noted that the federal government, through his ministry, is ready to support initiatives that strengthen governance at the grassroots level, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's 8-Point Renewed Hope Agenda.
The summit, themed "The Supreme Court Ruling on Local Government Autonomy and the Future of Local Government Administration and Grassroots Development," brought together key stakeholders to discuss the impact of the recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial and administrative autonomy to local governments.
Jisalo stressed that the ruling presents an unprecedented opportunity to reshape grassroots governance, ensuring that resources and decision-making power are directly accessible to local authorities. He called for collaboration among stakeholders to advance policies that empower local governments to fulfill their constitutional mandate.
The minister highlighted the Ministry's plans to foster partnerships with local governments, development agencies, and private sector actors to enhance capacity building, infrastructure development, and improved service delivery.
The summit aims to provide a roadmap for fully implementing local government autonomy in Nigeria, with participants engaging in high-level discussions to formulate strategies for enhancing governance at the grassroots level.