STATE-LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND ITS EFFECT ON GRASS ROOTS GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The Intergovernmental association of the Local Governments and the states in Nigeria is inevitable by virtue of the diverse composition of the people and by virtue of federal system of governance practiced. The paper examined the governance power at the grass roots and the abuse of power over them by the state governments in which such abuse is militating against the Local Governments that were established to bring benefit of democracy to the masses at the grass roots. The paper relied on judicial decision and statutory provisions establishing and empowering the government at the grass roots to function and provide for the people at the grass roots. It also relied on secondary data such as text books, periodicals, magazines, and internet materials which were all subjected to explanatory analysis. The study discovered that the autonomy needed by the local governments especially the power to receive and expend its fund to develop the grass roots has been fettered by the power abused by the State Governments against the Local Governments. The fiscal interaction between them is still being abused despite the intervention of the Supreme Court upholding and strengthening Local Government autonomy. Several months after the decision of the Supreme Court, some states in the country are yet to release the States’ allocation. They are yet to implement it by transferring certain percentage of their allocations to the state government. The paper concluded that true federalism is still not being practiced in Nigeria. Invariably, the Local Governments that were saved by the Supreme Court’s decision can only continue to exist and function effectively only if the decision of the Supreme Court is implemented.

References:

A02Law. (2024). The Supreme Court’s decision in Attorney General of the Federation and Attorney General of Abia State & 35 others: Appraising the fiscal implications of local government autonomy. A02Law. https://a02law.com/

Adah, O. (2022). Local government systems in United States of America and Britain: A comparative analysis and lessons for Nigeria. KSU Journal of Administration and Corporate Governance (KSUJACOG), 2(3), 37–48.

Adamolekun, L. (2002). Public administration in Africa: Main issues and selected country studies. Spectrum Books.

Adedayo, W. (2025, December 11). Court nullifies impeachment of ex-Ogun council boss. Premium Times. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/

Adedire, S. A. (2014). Local government and intergovernmental relations in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Covenant University Journal of Politics and International Affairs, 2(2), 101–114.

Ali, M. A. (2019). The impact of intergovernmental relations on local government administration in Nigeria. Journal of Management and Technology, 15, 45–58.

Almond, G. A., & Coleman, J. S. (1960). The politics of the developing areas. Princeton University Press.

Almond, G. A., & Powell, G. B. (1966). Comparative politics: A developmental approach. Little, Brown and Company.

Anyaegbunam, E. O. (2014). Essentials of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution as amended (1st ed.). African Centre for Parliamentary & Constitutional Studies.

Aransi, I. O. (2017). Local government, the people and the challenges of development in Nigeria. Journal of Public Administration and Policy Research, 9(2), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.5897/JPAPR2016.0375

Fatile, J. O., Fajonyomi, S. O., & Adejuwon, K. D. (2017). State-local government fiscal relations and grass roots development: An empirical review of selected local governments in Lagos State. Journal of Public Administration, Finance and Law, 12, 89–104.

Hazan, I. (2020). Local governance in Nigeria: An unsettling state of affairs. Urbanet. https://www.urbanet.info/local-governance-nigeria-unsettling-state-of-affairs/

Ikechukwu, U. B. (2014). Local government autonomy in Nigeria: A discourse on the constraints to its realisation and the implications for national development. The Business & Management Review, 5(2), 144–154.

Jamo, N. M. (2012). Local government as a foundation of good governance. In S. S. Ameh (Ed.), Challenges of constitutional governance in Nigeria (pp. 247–273). Ahmadu Bello University.

Nwankwo, B. C. (2001). Local government system in Nigeria: A critical analysis. African Journal of Political Science, 6(2), 245–258.

Nwogwugwu, N., & Olusesi, T. (2015). Operation of state-local governments joint account and financial autonomy of local governments in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. International Journal of Innovative Research & Development, 4(11), 85–91.

Obi, E. A. (2018). State local government relations and the autonomy question: Contextualizing the main issues. South East Journal of Political Science, 4(1), 1–15.

Ogunsanya, C. (2025, December 10). Judgment in Suit No. HCJ/53/2025. Ogun State High Court, Ijebu Ode.

Okoli, F. C., & Onah, F. O. (2010). Intergovernmental relations in Nigeria: Trends and patterns. African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 4(9), 370–377.

Oyewo, A. T. (2012). Legal anatomy of Nigerian local government law and chieftaincy matters. Jator Publishing Company.

Togun, Y. (2010). Democracy and dictatorship. The Grove Press.

Received: 05.05.26 / Revised: 24.02.26 / Accepted: 01.06.26 / Published: 30.06.26