At the Nigerian local government summit 2019 in Abuja, the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha said that, there will be an end to States and local governments joint account, through constitutional means. This is a welcome news from the Federal government to free local governments in Nigeria from maladministration and nonperformance of the governments at the grassroots. There is no gainsaying the fact that the closest government to the grassroots people is the local government administration. More than 80% of the population of this country reside in the grassroots. These categories of people need quality and functional education, prompt primary health care delivery, manpower development, human capital development, infrastructural development, socioeconomic emancipation etc. These can only be achieved, if local governments are allowed to have direct and unhindered access to their resources. For a long time ago,in the history of local government administration in this country, prompt and meaningful service delivery has suffered serious setback as a result of the constitutional provisions that put the finances and administration of local governments under the state houses of assembly. Some of the governors have taken undue advantage of this constitutional provisions, to reduce local governments to a mere extension of their offices, thereby subjecting the third tiers government and its people to abject poverty and retardation of socioeconomic development. I want to seize this medium, to appeal to all lovers of grassroots development to support the Federal government in her renewed efforts to liberate local government system, so that the needed all round national development of our great nation can be achieved, in the overall interest of the masses of our people. This is the only way Nigeria, as a nation can attain rapid political and socioeconomic advancement. The National Assembly is hereby enjoined to swing into action by immediately amending those obnoxious clauses of our constitution that will pave way for full autonomy to local government administration in Nigeria. God bless President Buhari for his consistency at ensuring full autonomy for local government administration, the Federal government and the good people of our dear country.
