Inside Katsina’s Local Government Reform Drive

When Governor Dikko Umaru Radda appointed Lawal Rufai Safana as Special Adviser on Local Government Inspectorate, it was more than a routine political decision. It was a deliberate move to confront long-standing structural weaknesses in grassroots governance.

In a wide-ranging interview with LEADERSHIP,  Safana offers rare insight into how the Katsina State Government is rebuilding local governments through supervision, accountability, and capacity development.

Safana describes his portfolio as the backbone of local government reform. “I was appointed by the state government to provide oversight, technical guidance, and supervision to all local government councils,” he said.

According to him, the Inspectorate’s responsibility is to ensure that projects are executed “strictly in line with approved budgets, timelines, and quality standards,” while also enforcing compliance with laws and administrative procedures.

He explains that his appointment coincided with a clear policy shift by the Radda administration. “My appointment came at a time when the government decided to strengthen the local government system through effective supervision and accountability,” he noted.

Drawing from his experience as a Local Government Inspector and Permanent Secretary, Safana adds: “This background made it easier for me to understand the challenges within the system and how best to address them.”

How the Inspectorate Works The Local Government

Inspectorate, Safana explains, is designed as a continuous support and monitoring mechanism rather than a distant regulatory body. “The Inspectorate exists to provide continuous supervision and technical assistance to local government councils,” he said.

“We interface with local governments on a daily basis. I personally conduct regular inspection visits, and we also have resident inspectors in all local governments who submit routine reports to my office,” Safana explained.

This structure, he says, ensures that “problems are identified early and addressed promptly.”

Early Priorities: Cleaning Up and Planning Ahead

Having spent about seven to eight months in office, Safana says his immediate focus was to fix the fundamentals.

“Our major focus has been strengthening project administration and preparing a realistic and implementable 2026 local government budget,” he said.

A critical step was aligning expectations with reality. “We ensured that projected revenues reflect actual inflows so that projects captured in the budget can be fully implemented,” he explained.

Equally important was clearing the backlog of unfinished work. “We also focused on clearing all outstanding 2025 projects, so that the 2026 financial year would begin on a clean and organised footing.”

Reviving a Once-Weak System

One of the most significant outcomes of the Inspectorate’s work, according to Safana, is what he calls the “revival” of local governments.

“Prior to our intervention, many councils were largely inactive. Staff attendance was low, and project execution was weak,” he recalled.

That picture, he insists, has changed. “Today, local governments are active, functional, and responsive,” Safana said.

Across the state, councils are now executing “roads, drainage systems, classrooms, healthcare facilities, water supply schemes, and security-related infrastructure.”

He emphasised that these projects are not limited to urban centres: “They are visible in rural communities and even remote settlements.”

Improved Project Delivery Across the State

Assessing current performance, Safana says there has been a noticeable improvement in project execution.

“Every local government is now implementing projects across key sectors like health, education, water resources, security, and rural infrastructure,” he said.

He is quick to clarify the Inspectorate’s role. “Our role is not to execute projects on behalf of councils, but to ensure that they are properly executed, meet quality standards, and deliver value to the people at the grassroots.”

Overcoming the Culture of Weak Supervision

Safana identifies weak supervision as the biggest challenge he encountered on assumption of office. “Many systems were not functioning because there was no effective oversight,” he said.

The solution, he argues, is straightforward. “Once we introduced structured supervision, clear guidelines, and regular monitoring, most of these challenges were gradually resolved,” he explained, adding pointedly: “Any system – local, state, or federal can only function properly when supervision is effective.”

Communities as Watchdogs

To deepen accountability, the state introduced Community Development Committees (CDCs). According to Safana, “These committees assist in monitoring projects within their communities and reporting observations.”

He believes the impact has been profound. “This has improved transparency, accountability, and community ownership of projects, ensuring that projects truly serve the needs of the people,” he said.

Local Government Autonomy in Practice

On the debate over local government autonomy, Safana is unequivocal. “Local government autonomy is fully implemented,” he said.

He explained that funds from the Federation Account are paid into the Local Government Joint Account, “which exists solely to distribute funds to councils, not for spending by any other authority.”

Local governments, he added, now receive their allocations regularly and use them “strictly in line with their approved budgets.” Any coordination by the state, he stressed, is “purely constitutional and administrative, not interference.”

Responding to claims that local governments lack capacity to manage funds, Safana offers a philosophical rebuttal. “Capacity can only be built through responsibility. You cannot determine whether someone is capable until you give them the opportunity,” he said.

What matters, he insists, is support. “What is required is effective supervision, technical guidance, and continuous support. That is exactly what we provide,” he explained, noting that performance improves as officials gain clarity about their roles.

A Hands-On Approach to Capacity Building

Capacity building, Safana says, goes beyond workshops. “Beyond formal training programmes, I strongly believe in on-the-job training,” he said.

He cited the preparation of the 2026 budgets as a practical example. “Instead of centralised meetings, our teams visited each local government council. We sat with chairmen, councillors, department heads, revenue officers, and supervisors to prepare their budgets line by line,” he explained.

The result, he says, is that “this practical approach has significantly improved understanding and performance.”

A New Era of Budgeting and Transparency

Looking ahead, Safana says the 2026 local government budgets will be a major departure from the past. “They will be remarkably different, more realistic, transparent, and professional,” he said.

According to him, they will “reflect actual revenue capacities and prioritise impactful projects,” and will “compare favourably with budgets prepared in more advanced administrative systems.”

To ensure public oversight, he revealed a new transparency tool. “I have developed a public monitoring website where budget implementation will be published on a monthly and ongoing basis,” Safana said.

This, he explained, will allow citizens “to track how funds are being utilised and assess project progress across all local governments.”

Working with the Governor

Safana describes his relationship with Governor Radda as central to the reforms.

“My working relationship with His Excellency has been excellent. He has given me full support and the necessary authority to carry out my duties effectively”, he reiterated.

That support, he believes, has been decisive. “This backing, combined with my experience in the local government system, has helped us stabilise and strengthen local government administration,” he said.

The Road Ahead

Safana is optimistic about the future. “By the end of the 2026 financial year, local governments in the state will rank among the most functional in Nigeria,” he declared.

According to  the Apecial Adviser, councils will fully deliver on “grassroots mobilisation, development, and service delivery, the very purpose for which local governments exist.”

On his message to the people is one of gratitude and resolve, the SA appreciates the understanding and cooperation of the people, noting that “local government staff and officials are motivated because they can see that the system is working. With sustained public support, he concluded,  local government administration in the state will continue to improve and deliver meaningful development to the grassroots.”