Since inception, local government councils in Nigeria have been alleged to be under the control of the state governments, a situation which overtime muscled down their ability to fully execute developmental projects.
This is despite the legal backing for the existence of local governments in Nigeria as enshrined in section 7 sub-section (1) of the Nigerian Constitution.
The idea that gave birth to the formation of local government councils in Nigeria is born out of the political will to bring the dividends of democracy to the grass roots.
It is in this light that there have been calls for the absolute independence of the local government councils in the country which is seen as the only way through which people at the grass roots can truly enjoy the dividends of democracy.
This plea has tirelessly been scuttled by helmsmen at the sub-national who to a large extent have a grip on the resources of local governments.
The term local government autonomy connotes local self government or grass root democracy which grants the will of its own and freedom to develop policy direction and pursue its development plan free from dictation from outside source.
Now that the battle for local government autonomy has been legally fought for and won by the federal government, the local governments now have the opportunity to among other things receive federal allocations directly from the central government, manage accrued revenue and execute projects that will impact the lives of the underserved population with little or no interference.
This is indeed a game changer especially as it concerns bringing true infrastructural and social development to the people who have for long been cut off from enjoying basic amenities such as good road network, portable drinking water, efficient healthcare systems and access to good, affordable, and conducive learning atmosphere.
The Supreme court judgement in favour of Local Government Autonomy is an opportunity for the helmsmen at the grass roots to address the many underlying challenges of the people that have been exacerbated by prolonged neglect.
Politically, the autonomy of local government will reduce interference, improve grass root decisions and deepen democracy by bringing government closer to the people.
This is a chance for the seven hundred and seventy-seven local government areas in the country to commit to rural development, making the country-sides more habitable and convenient for their people as it once was in the past.
Furthermore, with this development, the economies of the local governments should receive a considerable boost since a greater portion of the states’ internally generated revenue come from the local government via market taxes and returns from agricultural produce. The local government council can now leverage this new chance to boost economic activities at the grass roots.
Based on the premise that locally elected leaders know their constituents better than central authorities and so are well adapted to provide the public services needed at the grass root. When things go wrong, physical proximity also makes it easier for citizens to hold local officials accountable for their performance.
This will also grant them the chance to device local solutions to the myriad of security challenges which seem to have defied the many strategies already deployed.
Equally, the existence of local authorities with real governmental functions can provide for more flexible responses adapted to local needs thereby easing the responsibility of an over-stretched central government.
Ultimately, the relationship between the local government system and democracy lies on the premise that both functions promote the local economy, and social service for the realization of the social development of the local people through the empowerment of the local people in decision making.