Local governments remain ineffective despite Supreme Court autonomy judgment - Ex-NULGE President

Former National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Comrade Akeem Ambali, has highlighted that local governments continue to struggle despite the Supreme Court's recent decision granting financial autonomy to the third tier of government. During an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ambali emphasized the detrimental impact of this judgment implementation gap, which he believes has adversely affected service delivery and deepened the divide between the government and the populace, particularly in rural areas.

Ambali noted that, being the nearest government to ordinary Nigerians, local governments have been undermined by political interference, leading to their paralysis and ineffectiveness. He lamented that, regardless of the efforts made by state or federal governments, the absence of a functional local government hampers the anticipated impact of their initiatives.

Recalling President Bola Tinubu's initiative in creating Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos, Ambali praised the president for bringing governance closer to the grassroots. However, he questioned why the Supreme Court's judgment, secured through legal channels, has not yet yielded noticeable improvements.

The Supreme Court, according to Ambali, is the final court of appeal, and its judgments are final. He cautioned that any actions against the judgment could lead to legal consequences. He urged Nigerians to make the implementation of the judgment a significant issue in the upcoming 2027 elections, encouraging candidates to present clear plans for local government autonomy.

Ambali further advocated for the equipping of local councils to address critical issues such as maintaining rural roads, supporting farmers, providing basic infrastructure, and driving community policing. He expressed concern over the inability of farmers to transport their produce due to impassable roads, which is a direct consequence of the ineffectiveness of local governments.

He argued that the effectiveness of local councils should be measured by their impact on living conditions, not the activities carried out at their secretariat. Ambali emphasized that agricultural and community development officers work directly in the field, making the performance of local governments evident in the lives of the people they serve.