By Olamilekan Quadri May 29, 2023, will go down in memory as a pivotal date in Nigeria’s economic history. It marked the assertive pronounc...
By Olamilekan Quadri
May 29, 2023, will go down in memory as a pivotal date in Nigeria’s economic history. It marked the assertive pronouncement of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit. The following month - June 2023 - ushered in yet another landmark decision: the unification of Nigeria’s exchange rates.
Together, these bold fiscal moves by the Tinubu-led Federal Government freed up significant fiscal space across the three tiers of government, leading to historic all-time highs in FAAC allocations.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling affirming local government autonomy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 11, 2024, emphasized:
“Local government officials will be held accountable for their actions and inactions… What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses.”
In alignment with this statement, Lagos State in the past week has witnessed a wave of infrastructure projects commissioned by several Local Government administrations. In some cases, Governor Sanwo-Olu made personal appearances; in others, he was represented. However, not all 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas were active participants — some were entirely absent from the spotlight, perhaps failing to recognize the value of visibility, or worse, lacking tangible projects to showcase.
This underscores the President’s call for accountability—not just for those who did nothing, but also for those who did something. Because in governance, every action or inaction must be weighed against the public mandate.
Lagos, once again, has taken a leading role in demonstrating that governance can be close to the people, and that local government chairpersons carry a weighty responsibility. As we move forward, there is a pressing need for the state government to prioritize free, fair, and credible local government elections.
The low voter turnout during the July 12, 2025, LG elections reflected a growing public disillusionment with the process. Yet, ironically, the local government is the most important layer of government — being the closest to the people, and the one whose decisions affect daily life the most.
Interestingly, public discourse is shifting. The current wave of comparison is no longer between past and present administrations, but rather between local government areas themselves — between who is working and who is not. This shift is a positive signal, one that encourages progress-oriented thinking and citizen engagement.
The President has helped catalyze this change by making the hard decisions at the top. Now, local government officials must take the bull by the horns — keep their promises, prioritize the needs of their communities, and act with vision and courage.
We have seen what’s possible. We’ve seen public primary schools modeled like private institutions, healthcare centres that rival general hospitals, sports complexes uniting communities, and tech hubs nurturing the next generation of Nigerian talent.
Whether we agree or not, many Lagos State LG Chairmen have proven the President right: when empowered, local government can work. The third tier of government—the one closest to the people — is now better funded and better positioned to execute meaningful local projects.
Every citizen, regardless of demography or position, should join hands in calling for accountability. Beyond helping an administration stay prudent, accountability gives the next administration a realistic roadmap — showing what has been done, what was left undone, and how best to serve the people by prioritizing their needs. We must learn to shove aside emotions.
In fact, the government should encourage a culture where citizens scrutinize their books — not just through sweet, broadly acceptable statements on social media, but by openly responding to performance-based reviews and hard questions.
Lastly, just yesterday, President Tinubu made another bold move by accepting full federal responsibility for the ₦4 trillion owed to GENCOs by past administrations. When this backlog is finally cleared, it’s expected to significantly improve electricity supply across the country.
I urge the new local government administrations to prepare ahead for this transformation by designing community-based initiatives that generate income and diversify their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). We must not wait for a federal miracle before we build local solutions.
The third tier of government is no longer powerless. The future belongs to the ones who act — and act wisely.
I congratulate them and I beseige them to key into the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
I am Olamilekan Quadri, A Media Aide of Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, Member Representing Badagry Federal Constituency.
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