Can local governments survive without collaborating with state governments?

 Can local governments survive without collaborating with state governments?

By Izuchukwu Adichie.

Beyond the arguments for the recently passed Anambra State Local Government Law 2024, Governor Soludo deserves congratulations for his consistent demonstration of being a true democrat who upholds the rule of law. He has fulfilled one of his campaign promises by conducting the most peaceful and transparent local government election in line with sections 7 and 8 of the 1999 Nigeria constitution, as amended. Additionally, he has guaranteed local government autonomy in accordance with the law, which empowers the states through their House of Assemblies to make laws regarding the structure, composition, finance, and functions of such councils.

While the independence of local government is guaranteed for deepening democracy at the grassroots level, the big question is: can local governments in Nigeria survive without collaboration with the state governments in the present day where almost all the resources are controlled by the federal government? The country is battling with a dwindling economy, and local government councils have enormous responsibilities but are allocated meager resources per month, with lesser internally generated revenue (IGR) in their localities.

In Anambra, local governments faced challenges in the past between 1998 and 2003, such as non-payment of pensioners, teachers, and healthcare workers, which resulted in prolonged strike actions. To address this and ensure equitable development, Soludo has proposed the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, allowing chairmen to manage resources through consolidated contributory funds with advisory members, including commissioners  for Budget, Finance, Health, Education, and Agriculture.

According to Soludo, this state-local government assistance, just as we have federal-states, should take the form of a partnership on issues of security, health, primary education, and agriculture. It is important to address these issues thoughtfully and analytically rather than approaching them from a purely political standpoint. This approach ensures that granting autonomy to local governments does not result in certain areas of the state facing hardships. Some local governments have more strength than others, while some are economically underserved and want more assistance.