The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to rigorously oversee local government operations to ensure good governance, accountability, and transparency.
This pledge comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision that granted financial autonomy to local governments.
At a national dialogue organized by Agora Policy in Abuja, themed “Enthroning Accountability in Local Government in Nigeria,” EFCC Chairman’s representative, Friday Ebelo, expressed the commission’s commitment to this cause.
He highlighted, “Good governance encompasses three essential elements: accountability, transparency, and citizen participation. For these elements to be effective, we need dedicated and development-minded individuals to manage local government administrations.”
The EFCC stressed its determination to scrutinize local government operations, stating, “We must make a deliberate effort to bring the presence of governance to our people, ensuring that citizens feel the impact of governance in their daily lives, particularly in areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.”
The commission also warned against the continuation of “business as usual,” signaling a renewed focus on holding local governments accountable.
Founder of Agora Policy, Waziri Adio, underscored the necessity for reform within rural government areas. He remarked, “Local government areas are the least trusted, least capacitated, and least interesting to the public.”
Citing data from Afrobarometer’s 2008 survey, he noted that only 28 percent of citizens trusted local government administration, a significant drop from 58 percent in 2000.
Adio advocated for greater awareness, engagement, and accountability, stating, “We need to fix the broken representative government by involving people directly in decision-making.”
Adio further emphasized the need for comprehensive accountability mechanisms, “We need to increase awareness, engagement, and accountability. This requires vertical, horizontal, and diagonal accountability mechanisms.”
Africa Director of the MacArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima, highlighted the necessity of local governance reform by referencing a conversation where a villager expected President Buhari to resolve a local water issue.
He noted, “This shows the mentality of our people, expecting the president to fix all problems.” Shettima also praised the Agora Policy Center for fostering policy discussions and recognized efforts by local governments to involve citizens in decision-making.