Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, delivered the keynote address at a pivotal policy dialogue convened by Agora Policy. The event, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, was themed “Local Governance Reforms a Year After Supreme Court’s Ruling” and aimed to evaluate the progress and challenges in implementing the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
In his address, Edun emphasized the necessity for collaboration among federal, state, and local governments to ensure the effective implementation of the ruling. He highlighted that during the recent Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, stakeholders agreed on the importance of increased consultations to address the developmental needs at the grassroots level. Edun noted that the development of local governments is a key priority for the Federal Government, as outlined in the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) programme, a World Bank-backed initiative aimed at improving education, healthcare, and governance outcomes across Nigeria.
The dialogue featured a distinguished panel of experts, including Diana Mitlin, CEO of the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC); Deborah Isser of the World Bank; Cynthia Rowe of the British High Commission; Kole Shettima of the MacArthur Foundation; Remi Aiyede, Professor of Political Science at the University of Ibadan; and Ojobo Atuluku, Chair of Agora Policy. Moderated by Nancy Illoh-Nnaji, host of Moneyline with Nancy, the panel discussed innovative approaches to local government reform and strategies to build responsive and accountable local councils.
The event also featured a panel session to dissect the progress and challenges with the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling and to provide pathways for more effective, responsive, and accountable local administration in the country. The panelists included Lawal Yandaki, National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); Akintunde Oyebode, Chair of the Forum of Finance Commissioners and Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development in Ekiti State; Saudatu Mahdi, Secretary-General of Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA); Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa; and Umar Yakubu, Executive Director of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI).
The dialogue was supported by the MacArthur Foundation and organized in collaboration with the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), TheCable, and the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI). This event marks the second in a series of dialogues organized by Agora Policy on local government reforms, with the first held on August 5, 2024, focusing on accountability in local governance.
The overall goal of the dialogue was to get critical stakeholders to focus on the imperative of root-and-branch reforms at the local level and how to make them happen. Agora Policy remains committed to evidence-based reform and inclusive governance, providing a platform for frank dialogue, policy learning, and cross-sector collaboration.
The event underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and policy coordination among stakeholders to ensure that the promise of local government financial autonomy translates into tangible improvements in governance, accountability, and development outcomes for Nigerian citizens at the local level.
