By RismadarVoice Media
December 27, 2025
The Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative (DRDI) has stressed the need for urgent reforms to strengthen financial autonomy for Local Government Authorities (LGAs) in Jigawa State.
DRDI, in a press statement emphasized that improved fiscal independence, transparency, accountability are crucial for effective grassroots governance and service delivery.
Dr. Muhammad Mustapha Yahaya, Executive Director of DRDI, 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.”
He noted that the 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.
He 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 transparency, poor budget disclosure, 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, improved oversight mechanisms,” he stated.
Dr. Yahaya stressed that many citizens support LGA financial autonomy, noting that it would enhance service delivery, accountability, 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, 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, digital platforms to promote transparency and rebuild public trust.
Yahaya also recommended the implementation of targeted capacity-building programme to train LGA staff in budgeting, auditing, 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, persons with disabilities in governance decisions.
“By extension, LGAs should boost internally generated revenue through improved administration, automation, diversification to reduce reliance on statutory allocations,” he noted.
