As Nigeria continues to steer its course towards a more effective federal system, the importance of collaboration among the tiers of government cannot be overstated. It is a critical ingredient in driving a more efficient Local Government architecture.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, an ardent advocate of competitive federalism, has canvassed the necessity of cooperation among the Federal, State, and Local Governments to optimize resources and enhance governance. According to the Governor no tier of government enjoys absolute autonomy; rather, it is through strategic collaboration that the collective goals of national development can be achieved.
A striking example of this is in the management of Nigeria’s natural resources. While the Federal Government has exclusive control over solid minerals, the states retain exclusive rights over the land. This creates a scenario in which neither the federal government nor the states can fully exploit natural resources without cooperating with the other.
Security, is another area where collaboration between the tiers of government is indispensable. Currently, States and Local Governments contribute tens of billions of naira monthly, deducted directly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee to fund the federal armed forces. While security remains under the exclusive purview of the Federal Government, the states are spending substantial portions of their own revenues on logistics and operational support for federal security agencies operating within their boundaries.
Similarly, in the area of education, there is a well-established partnership between the Federal Government and the States. The federal Universal Basic Education Commission mandates that states provide counterpart funding before federal funds are released for basic education. This, not only ensures that both the Federal and State Governments invest in the success of the education system but also allows for federal oversight to ensure that the contributions of states are used effectively. Governor Soludo also highlights the role of federal oversight in state borrowing. It is a fact that the Debt Management Office, a federal agency, must clear any State Government seeking to borrow from the domestic financial system. In this way, the Federal Government provides a necessary check on state finances.
All the foregoing examples underline that no tier of government can function in isolation. The notion of “absolute autonomy,” often touted in discussions about Local Government reform, is unrealistic in a federal structure as complex and interconnected as Nigeria’s. Local Governments cannot fulfill their constitutional responsibilities without active collaboration with State Governments.
Recognizing this reality, the Constitution grants state Houses of Assembly the authority to make laws for Local Governments. This arrangement is not a limitation on Local Government autonomy but recognition that Local Governments require the support and oversight of State Governments to function effectively. Besides, the Constitution did not create a separate judiciary for Local Governments. This judicial structure further proves the need for a collaborative approach to governance at the local level.
So, the challenges facing Nigeria, cannot be solved by any one level of government acting in isolation. Instead, these challenges require a concerted effort, where each tier of government brings its unique strengths and resources to the table, ensuring that the collective welfare of the Nigerian people is prioritized.
CHRISTIAN ABURIME
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