President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has attributed the worsening insecurity in Nigeria to the poor state of governance at the local government level.
Speaking at a national discourse on security challenges and good governance, Tinubu noted that a well-governed state is better equipped to address internal security threats.
The President expressed concern over the degradation and incapacitation of local government systems, which has contributed to developmental setbacks and the inability to effectively address national security threats.
He emphasized the importance of local governments as frontline defenders against insecurity, as they are closest to the people and possess intimate knowledge of their community’s needs and challenges.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, also called for the scrapping of State Electoral Commissions to pave the way for the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct local government elections.
He argued that governors have been taking advantage of loopholes in the 1999 Constitution to clamp down on local governments and impose their will, depriving people at the grassroots of the dividends of democracy.
Fagbemi further noted that the abuse of state/local government joint accounts by governors has made it difficult for local governments to access their share of the Federation Account for developmental purposes.
He filed a suit against governors at the Supreme Court, seeking to stop the remitting of local government funds to state governors and the disbanding of local government leadership.