LG Autonomy Now Reality In Nasarawa – Council Boss

The chairman of Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Council of Nasarawa State, Barr. Iliya Ibn Aliyu, has said the local government financial autonomy has moved from promise to reality, describing it as the biggest catalyst for grassroots development as Nasarawa State clocks 30 and Nigeria 66.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the twin anniversaries, Ibn Aliyu felicitated President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule for their roles in entrenching autonomy for the 774 local government areas in the country.

He said President Tinubu deserves commendation for making local government financial autonomy a major plank of his reform agenda and for providing the political will to implement the Supreme Court judgment affirming the financial independence of councils.

Ibn Aliyu also lauded Governor Sule for domesticating the judgment in Nasarawa State through the signing of the Nasarawa State Local Government Law 2024. The law abolished the joint account system between the state and the 13 local government areas and provided that funds meant for councils be paid directly to their accounts.

According to him, the reform has ended years of undue interference, strengthened transparency and accountability, and given councils the freedom to plan and execute projects based on the actual needs of their communities.

The chairman said autonomy has repositioned local governments as true development centres, enabling councils like Nasarawa Eggon to channel resources directly into primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, water supply and youth empowerment.

He noted that Nasarawa at 30 represents three decades of resilience, growth and transformation, adding that the next phase of development must be driven from the grassroots.

Ibn Aliyu urged citizens to sustain peace, unity, tolerance and mutual understanding, which he said are critical for autonomy to deliver tangible benefits.

He expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between federal, state and local governments would accelerate development, and prayed for wisdom and good health for President Tinubu, Governor Sule and other leaders, while wishing Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary and Nasarawans a happy 30th anniversary.