Tinubu’s Stand On LG Autonomy Will Drive Grassroots Development — Onuigbo

The member representing South-East on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the full implementation of local government autonomy will ensure accelerated development at the grassroots.

Onuigbo, in a statement on Tuesday to LEADERSHIP, described the President’s intervention as timely, courageous and critical to grassroots development and national stability.

The former lawmaker, an advocate of local government autonomy and climate change, said Tinubu’s remarks at the National Executives Committee Meeting and National Caucus Meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on the autonomy of local government have once again demonstrated his love for the citizens.

He noted that state governors have allegedly withheld over ₦4.5 trillion meant for local government councils, one year after the Supreme Court ruled that allocations to them must be paid directly from the Federation Account.

The landmark ruling delivered in July 2024 declared it unconstitutional for state governments to continue operating joint state-local government accounts as a conduit for federal allocations to councils.

Onuigbo lauded the President for not only initiating the legal process that culminated in the Supreme Court judgment, but also for following it up with decisive administrative actions.

“I want to personally and publicly commend Mr President for remaining dogged and resolute on this matter. Supreme Court rulings are not suggestions; they are final and binding. The President has shown uncommon political will by insisting that funds meant for local governments must get to them directly.

“When the President said money meant for local governments should get to them at the party’s meeting, he was speaking not just as a party leader, but as a statesman who understands that Nigeria’s development begins from the grassroots,” Onuigbo said.

He maintained that the continued delay in implementing local government autonomy was largely attributable to resistance from state governors.

“The bottleneck is clearly with the governors. The federal government has done its part—legally, administratively and politically. What remains is for state governments to respect the Constitution and the Supreme Court judgment,” he said.

Drawing from historical experience, Onuigbo recalled that local governments functioned more effectively in the early years of the Fourth Republic, when council chairmen could independently execute projects such as rural roads, electrification, building markets, and youth engagement programmes.

“When local governments are allowed to breathe, they deliver. They know their people. They understand local security dynamics. They can engage youths productively and curb insecurity. But when their funds are withheld, governance at the grassroots collapses,” he warned.

Onuigbo also linked local government autonomy to broader national challenges, including insecurity, youth unemployment, and rural underdevelopment, stressing that empowering councils financially would significantly reduce social unrest and strengthen community-based governance.

While acknowledging constitutional hurdles, particularly provisions relating to joint accounts under Section 162, he expressed confidence that the committee set up by the federal government would find lawful and practical ways to enforce the judgment without violating constitutional processes.

He further urged Nigerians to play an active role by demanding accountability from both local government chairmen and state governors.
“The most important office in a democracy is that of the citizen. People must ask questions: how much came into their local government, and what was it used for? Once that pressure builds, impunity will give way to accountability,” he said.

Onuigbo again hailed the broader reform agenda of Tinubu, noting improvements in fuel pricing, declining inflation figures and signs of economic recovery.

He expressed optimism that with most governors now in the ruling party, Tinubu’s charge would be heeded and the long-standing obstruction of local government autonomy would finally come to an end.