As Nigeria marks its 64th Independence Anniversary, the traditional ruler of Lagos Mainland Local Government, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, called on the federal and state governments to grant full autonomy to local councils. He emphasized the need for local authorities to have complete control over governance and administration at the community level, rather than being limited to financial autonomy alone.
Kalejaiye highlighted that financial autonomy is insufficient for local governments to function effectively. According to him, local councils need constitutional freedom to carry out their responsibilities, as outlined in the residual list, without interference from state governments. He argued that this level of autonomy is essential for improving the lives of people at the grassroots level.
The monarch expressed these views in his Independence Day message on October 1, 2024. He stressed that true independence for local councils could only be achieved when state governments refrain from interfering in their operations, allowing them to govern and serve their communities without unnecessary intervention.
Kalejaiye further emphasized the importance of recognizing local governments as an independent tier of government with specific constitutional responsibilities, rather than treating them as mere extensions of state governments. He pointed out that these responsibilities include enforcing safety regulations, providing community services, overseeing local markets, protecting the environment, and managing chieftaincy affairs.
He also alleged that state governments have taken over the safety regulation and monitoring roles that should be handled by local councils. This interference, he said, has rendered local council administrations redundant, leaving traditional rulers and community leaders neglected by state officials who are taking on tasks that should be handled at the local level.
As Nigeria celebrated its 64th Independence Anniversary, Kalejaiye urged both the federal and state governments to address these concerns by granting local councils full control over their affairs, particularly in administration, community governance, and the enforcement of safety regulations.
“The local government authorities are the closest to the people at the grassroots, but their impact is not felt because the state government has hijacked almost all of their responsibilities,” Kalejaiye said. “For instance, in every local government, there is an environmental department responsible for monitoring markets and enforcing safety regulations. However, you’ll find state officials carrying out these responsibilities, making the local councils redundant.”
He continued, “One of the roles of the local council is to ensure the safety of lives and property in the district, including compliance with building regulations and environmental laws. Many developers now violate state building regulations, ignoring setbacks, drainage channels, and the right of way for infrastructure. When state officials inspect these violations, often nothing is done to correct them because they are compromised.”
Kalejaiye highlighted the critical importance of empowering local councils to enforce these safety regulations, which could help prevent issues such as building collapses and flooding caused by obstructed drainage channels. “These problems could be avoided if local councils were empowered to implement safety codes effectively,” he added.
He called on the state government to allow local councils to be responsible for enforcing and monitoring safety standards in their districts, rather than leaving this critical task to the State Building Control Agency.
By giving local governments the autonomy they need, Kalejaiye argued, they could better fulfill their constitutionally assigned duties, especially in public safety services, which are crucial for ensuring the daily safety and security of residents.
“I appeal to the state government to empower local councils to take control of public safety services in their areas, for the prosperity and security of our nation,” the monarch concluded.
