LG autonomy: CSOs, stakeholders seek State Assemblies’ support

Centre for Leadership Strategy (LSD) yesterday led other Civil Society Organisations, media and other stakeholders in urging the various Houses of Assembly to support grassroots development in Nigeria by voting for local government autonomy. Th e Centre in partnership with Christian Aid Nigeria and UKAID under its Voice to the People (V2P) project, held a one-day CSO/Media roundtable in Kaduna to highlight the need for local governments as basis for national development, to enjoy fi nancial autonomy for the council leaders to be answerable to the people and to ensure grassroots development that is closest to the people.

Th e partnership aimed to urge state lawmakers to vote for local government autonomy to ensure that true development starts from the grassroots where there are the majority of the people. Program Director of the Centre, Monday Osasah noted that, a fi nancially autonomous local government system that recognizes the place of citizens’ participation in decision-making, will ensure not just the virility of local governments to deliver services at the grassroots level, but also bring about widespread development to communities across the country. He commended the Nigerian senate for passing the bill on local government fi nancial autonomy amongst others in the ongoing constitution review process. Also speaking, Programme Offi cer, Governance, Christian Aid Nigeria which is currently working on Voice to the People (V2P), Terfa Hemea reminded the participants on the need to work together to ensure that the push this time around work in the interest of grassroots development because it is the nearest tier of government to the people.

 

 

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