The Nigerian Senate has asked President Bola Tinubu to kick-start advocacy for full autonomy of local governments in the country to curb insecurity, rural-urban migration, decaying infrastructure, and widespread unemployment. This was part of resolutions reached during a debate on a motion to resuscitate Local Government system in Nigeria, sponsored by Senator Senator Kawu Suleiman.
Other lawmakers, who described the local government as the most abused system, called for an amendment of the 1999 constitution to catalyze such independence. In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin emphasized that any comprehensive review of the 1999 Constitution must include genuine devolution of powers to local governments.
The upper chamber also asked the President to convene a national dialogue involving governors, state legislators, local government officials, civil society organizations, and community leaders to discuss the road map towards achieving full local government autonomy.
