Araba, Olawale Enifenilanfe:
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu Branch, organized the 2025 Law Week in honour of the late Asiwaju Babatunde Olusola Benson, SAN, KJW, LLD, on April 29, 2025, at the Peakstone Event Centre in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The theme was Bar—Inspiring Change, Embracing Growth, on May 1, 2025.
The Annual Public Lecture focused on “Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: A Myth or a Reality” and featured a panel discussion with notable guests, including Hon. Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, former Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives; Dr Abiodun Odubote, Associate Professor at the University of Lagos; Olusegun Fabunmi, SAN, a legal practitioner; Prof. Ademola Popoola, a professor of Comparative Public Law and International Law at Obafemi Awolowo University; and Aarebinrin Hon. Dr. Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Vice Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government and National Chairman of the Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGOVC).
Professor Popoola analyzed the 1976 local government reforms, which aimed to establish a unified local governance system and ensure the autonomy of local governments. The 1999 Constitution guarantees the existence, structure, and functions of local governments, emphasizing the necessity for financial independence.
The 1976 reforms aimed to diminish state control, allowing local councils to function as development agents. Although the Supreme Court ruled that funding should be allocated directly to local governments, challenges remain in ensuring their financial autonomy.
Dr Abiodun Odubote believes that the local government is not functioning according to the principles justifying the local government system.
In question, he asked, “Why do citizens need local government when the system is not working?”
Local government is designed to be more accessible to the community, allowing residents to engage directly in discussions about their pressing needs.
It is essential to provide basic amenities to the people.
Comparing the local government systems of the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) with Nigeria’s local government system.
He cited an example from Northside Hospital Gwinnett in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, which was built and maintained by the local government.
Northside Hospital Gwinnett (formerly Gwinnett Medical Center-Lawrenceville) is a hospital with 353 acute care beds located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States. Previously, it served as the primary facility within the Gwinnett Medical Center system, which encompassed various hospitals and medical centres throughout Gwinnett County, Georgia. In 2019, the hospital merged with the Northside Hospital system based in Atlanta, Georgia, and was renamed Northside Hospital Gwinnett. Following the merger, the former Gwinnett system facilities were designated as part of the Northside Hospital system’s Gwinnett healthcare campuses. “I have not seen any hospital in Nigeria that can be compared with Gwinnett Hospital, Dr. Abiodun Odubote.
Additionally, he spoke about UK Borrow, where individuals can easily file basic complaints and receive prompt attention. He mentioned that the organization is very close to the community, responsive, and responsible. “That is the significance of local government,
The speaker discussed the importance of three fundamental theories that are considered standard.
1. Democratic Participatory Theory: The core principle of this theory is to encourage individuals to actively engage in politics and cultivate leadership qualities. As a result, they can advance to the state level and ultimately to the federal level, thereby contributing to national development.
2. Efficiency in Service Theory: This scenario depicts local government executives, political appointees, and management officials who only visit their local offices to distribute resources, neglecting the essential role of local government in delivering effective services.
3. Development Theories: The local government, being closer to the people, is best positioned to deliver efficient services to the community. “Nothing is being done at the local government level”. He said.
Conclusively, he believes that the local government Areas are not working.
“Not until the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is been amended at the supreme court level for the independence of the Local Government, the State will continue to be in control. He said.
Hon. Prince Rotime Ogunleye on the panel discussion, pragmatically analysed the needs for active functions of the local government, stating from Section Two (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which was found in Chapter 1 as a yardstick to work on.
The Constitution defines Nigeria as a federation, meaning power is divided between the federal and state governments.
This lack of mention of local governments in these sections does not negate the existence or functions of local governments according to Section 2(2) and Section 14.
Furthermore, look at Section 7(1); Local Government which
guarantees the local government system and places a duty on state governments to establish and ensure the existence of democratically elected local councils. This section provides the basis for the establishment and functions of local governments in Nigeria, according to the Nigerian Constitution.
Meanwhile, Section 8 of the Nigerian Constitution primarily addresses the procedures for creating new states, adjusting existing state boundaries, and creating or adjusting local government areas.
Prince Ogunleye concluded that for the Local Government to be a vibrant and effectively independent body, there should be a reamendment of the 1976 reform, 1979 section 7, 1989 section 7 and 1999 section 7 constitution from the Supreme Court.
“How can you have autonomy over a body that assured your existence?”
In conclusion, said, to ensure the absolute independence of the local government in Nigeria there should be a reamendment of the constitution from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Commended SOK Chilling for his observation of the Lawyer’s responsibilities in the rightful habit of doing.
Aarebinrin Hon. Dr. Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Vice Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government and National Chairman of the Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGOVC) appraised the present government for their effective effort towards nation-building.
The Renewed Hope agenda has achieved many developmental projects across the States and also saddled the Local Government Area and Local Council Development Areas to ensure the masses enjoyed the dividend of democracy.
“We are not where we need to be, but we are not where we used to be either.” “Everything is working”, gradually it will circulate. Aarebinrin Hon. Dr Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba assures.
Competency awards were presented to the distinguished four panellists i.e Hon. Commissioner (Prince) Rotimi Ogunleye; Dr Abiodun Odubote; Olusegun Fabunmi, SAN; Prof. Ademola Popoola; and Aarebinrin Hon. Dr. Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba.
LaRoyal Global CommunityNews: 2025 ©️ Edition.
