By Atoyebi Nike
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering local governments and boosting grassroots development.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the second policy dialogue on Local Governance Reforms: A Year After the Supreme Court’s Ruling, Edun stressed the need for stronger democratic structures and better service delivery, especially for youth.
“The project prioritises the construction and rehabilitation of digital technology hubs in every local government,” Edun said, noting this would improve access to education, healthcare, and markets, and drive inclusive economic growth.
He also unveiled the Nutrition 774 Initiative, designed to tackle malnutrition across all 774 LGAs by scaling up nutrition services and strengthening community leadership, particularly for mothers and children.
The event was hosted by Agora Policy with support from the MacArthur Foundation, Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI), The Cable, and the African Cities Research Consortium.
Agora Policy Chair Ojobo Atuluku said the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy was a turning point. “Caretaker committees imposed by governors are unconstitutional. State governments must not interfere in local governance,” she said.
Atuluku also previewed the Local Governance Accountability Portal, a new tool offering public access to data on local allocations, elected officials, and governance profiles to foster transparency.
Victor Muruako, Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, noted that autonomy must come with accountability. “We are supporting LGAs with fiscal frameworks to ensure responsible spending,” he said.
Deborah Isser, Lead Governance Specialist at the World Bank, hailed the Supreme Court verdict as a vital step toward correcting systemic imbalances. “Local governments are best placed to meet community needs, but political resistance and weak capacity remain obstacles,” she said.
