The Lagos State House of Assembly lawmakers on Tuesday deliberated on a motion to grant financial autonomy to the legislative arms of Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos.
During the plenary, the House resolved to call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to mandate the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development to develop a framework for independent funding of legislative councils in Lagos State.
The motion, titled “Need to Grant Financial Autonomy to the Legislative Arm of the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in the State,” was moved by the Chairman, Committee on Local Government Administration, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Sanni Babatunde.
He emphasised that the legislative arm at the grassroots remained a vital component of Nigeria’s democratic governance, constitutionally charged with law-making, oversight, and representing the people within their constituencies.
Deliberating on the motion, another lawmaker, Obafemi Saheed, said the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, clearly establishes the principle of separation of powers and autonomy at the local level, which would strengthen representation, oversight, and independence in line with what is obtainable at both the state and federal tiers of government.
He added that this would further enhance good governance in the grassroots.
Commending the mover of the motion, Temitope Adewale emphasised that the functions of councillors at the local government level mirror those of state legislators.
He lamented that many council leaders were often subject to undue control by local government chairmen due to financial dependence.
He further suggested that the training of local government legislative leaders should not be left solely to the Ministry of Local Government but should also involve the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Contributing, Bonu Solomon noted that President Bola Tinubu should be commended for granting financial autonomy to local governments through direct allocation from the federation account, which has already improved their performance.
He stressed that the same measure must be extended to the legislative arm at the grassroots to ensure accountability and smooth democratic processes.
While Aro Moshood added that granting autonomy to the local government legislatures was necessary for effective grassroots governance, he suggested that lawmakers should visit their local governments in order to observe legislative sessions and the challenges councilors face without autonomy.
Aligning with the views of other members, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, stressed the need for councillors to enjoy financial independence in order to effectively discharge their oversight duties.
Obasa noted that with the recent increase in allocations to local governments, the legislature at the grassroots must be empowered to ensure proper checks and balances in the interest of the people.
