In a candid assessment of Nigeria’s governance structure, Senior Advocate Mohammed Ndarani has highlighted how the nation’s 1999 Constitution continues to undermine the independence of local governments, even after a pivotal Supreme Court ruling aimed at freeing them from state dominance.
Speaking during a recent discussion in Abuja, Ndarani emphasized that while the Constitution formally acknowledges local governments as the country’s third level of administration, practical realities paint a different picture.
He pointed out that state authorities maintain tight grips on finances and operations, creating a cycle of reliance that hampers effective service delivery at the grassroots level.
This critique comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s groundbreaking decision on July 14, 2024, which upheld the financial and administrative self-reliance of local governments.
The ruling was designed to curb state meddling and ensure funds reach communities directly, but Ndarani argues it’s largely symbolic without deeper reforms.
“The core issue lies in the constitutional setup that funnels federal allocations through state-controlled mechanisms,” Ndarani explained.
He specifically critiqued provisions that establish a shared account system between states and local councils, which he says allows governors to siphon or redirect resources intended for rural development.
According to the legal expert, this joint account arrangement has left local governments powerless, forcing them to align with state priorities rather than addressing community needs.
“It’s like giving someone a key to a door that’s bolted from the inside—access is promised, but control remains elsewhere,” he noted, underscoring how such interference has sidelined rural areas from national progress.
Ndarani stressed that the Supreme Court’s intervention stemmed from ongoing federal concerns over fund mismanagement by states, which prompted legal action to safeguard local allocations.
However, he warned that enforcing the judgment is challenging because the court couldn’t eliminate the joint account framework outright, leaving states as obligatory intermediaries.
To truly empower local governments, Ndarani advocates for targeted constitutional changes. These should include scrapping or overhauling the joint account system and mandating direct transfers of funds from the federal pool to local councils. Such measures, he believes, would foster greater accountability among local leaders and ensure that governance benefits extend to remote villages.
“Local governments exist to bridge the gap between urban centers and rural heartlands,” Ndarani added. “Without financial freedom, we’re denying millions the tangible impacts of democracy, like improved infrastructure and services.”
His call for amendments aligns with broader debates on federalism in Nigeria, where advocates argue that decentralizing power could accelerate development and reduce corruption. As discussions on constitutional review gain momentum, Ndarani’s insights add urgency to reforming a system that, in his view, has long favored state elites over grassroots communities.
While the path to implementation remains uncertain, experts like Ndarani suggest that prioritizing these changes could transform local governance, making it a true engine for inclusive growth across the nation.
