Banire, Ajala demand shift from LG autonomy to grassroots impact
Former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Muiz Adeyemi Banire (SAN), and former Chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, Hon. Rasaq Ajala, have called for a decisive shift from mere local government autonomy to measurable, people-centred impact, stressing that sustainable national development must be anchored at the grassroots.
Banire, represented by Dr. Adekunle Adegoke (SAN), made the call while delivering the keynote address at a high-level symposium organised by Naijanewsdirect in Lagos.
The event, themed “From Autonomy to Impact: Repositioning Local Governments for Grassroots Development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Reforms,” was held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ikeja, attracting policymakers, political leaders, scholars, and governance stakeholders.
In his address, Banire described local governments as the “engine room of development,” lamenting that the third tier has long been weakened by systemic neglect, financial constraints, and political interference, despite constitutional provisions assigning them key responsibilities.
He observed that the Joint State–Local Government Account system has deprived councils of adequate funding, resulting in poor service delivery and eroding public trust, criticising the dissolution of elected councils and the imposition of caretaker committees by some state governments as unconstitutional and harmful to democracy.
Banire, however, credited the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for advancing reforms aimed at restoring local government autonomy, particularly through the 2024 Supreme Court ruling mandating direct allocation of funds to councils, which he described as a turning point for grassroots governance.
Speaking as a Guest Speaker, Ajala stressed the need for inclusive and people-oriented grassroots governance, noting that effective local governments can drive economic growth, reduce unemployment, and enhance security.
Earlier, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Naijanewsdirect, Tunde Ogunmola, said the symposium was designed to deepen discourse on grassroots development, adding that strengthening local governance remains critical to the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
