National Assembly Grants Full Autonomy to Local Governments; INEC to Conduct LGA Elections

By Mohammed Bello Doka

In a historic move, the National Assembly, on Tuesday, amended section 124 of the constitution, providing full financial and administrative autonomy to all 774 local councils in Nigeria. This marks a significant shift, establishing the local councils as a third-tier government without interference from state governments.

The amendment, one of 22 others approved last week by the House of Representatives and ratified by the Senate, signifies a critical step towards empowering local governance. The document, now heading to State Houses of Assembly for approval, also introduces the Office of Auditor General of the Local Government and the State Local Government Service Commission.

Furthermore, the amendment eliminates the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) from the constitution, transferring the authority to conduct council elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The National Assembly has upheld the immunity clause for the President and Governors, opting for the Senate's version while rejecting the House of Representatives' proposal to remove this clause.

In a forward-looking move, the National Assembly has also paved the way for Independent Candidacy in future elections by amending sections 65 and 106 of the 1999 constitution, reflecting a commitment to evolving democratic practices in Nigeria.