By Ibrahim Ibrahim
The Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative (DRDI) has urged the Jigawa State Government to implement urgent reforms aimed at strengthening the financial autonomy of Local Government Authorities (LGAs) across the state.
DRDI Executive Director Dr. Muhammad Mustapha Yahaya, made the call in a press statement issued to newsmen on Friday.
He stated that improved fiscal independence, transparency, and accountability are crucial for effective grassroots governance and service delivery.
He explained that the call followed a Rapid Response Research conducted by DRDI under its project titled “District Voices for Development: Promoting Transparent LGA Budgeting in Northern Nigeria.”
According to the statement, research assessed citizens’ perceptions of LGA financial autonomy in six local councils including Birnin Kudu, Gagarawa, Hadejia, Kiyawa, Mallam Madori, and Ringim, examined how fiscal dependence on state governments affects service delivery and citizens’ trust.
Dr. Yahaya stated that findings from the research revealed that while citizens understand the constitutional role of LGAs, most believe they lack real financial independence. Others believe that state-level control of funds limits LGAs’ ability to function effectively, coupled with concerns over weak transparency, poor budget disclosure, and limited technical capacity to manage funds.
“Some also identified the State Joint Local Government Account as a major obstacle to autonomy, calling for direct funding and improved oversight mechanisms,” he revealed.
Dr. Yahaya stressed that many citizens support LGA financial autonomy, noting that it would enhance service delivery, accountability, and job creation.
“However, some expressed fears that greater financial control could also lead to corruption, politicization, and weak oversight if not accompanied by stronger governance safeguards,” he added.
He, therefore, called for strengthening the legal and fiscal framework for local government autonomy by ensuring direct and predictable transfers to LGAs while minimizing political interference in financial management.
He further urged regular public disclosure of budgets and expenditures through notice boards, town halls, and digital platforms to promote transparency and rebuild public trust.
The Executive Director also recommended the implementation of targeted capacity-building programs to train LGA staff in budgeting, auditing, and project monitoring.
He advocated for stronger accountability and oversight mechanisms through active internal audits, improved legislative supervision, and community-based budget monitoring.
“The institutionalization of public hearings and participatory budgeting is very important to ensure the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in governance decisions. By extension, LGAs should boost internally generated revenue through improved administration, automation, and diversification to reduce reliance on statutory allocations,” he noted.
Dr. Yahaya concluded that achieving genuine financial autonomy requires a balanced approach combining fiscal independence with accountability, transparency, and citizen engagement.
“Empowering local governments to manage resources responsibly will not only strengthen grassroots democracy but also ensure sustainable development across Jigawa State,” he affirmed.
