The Local Government Economic Summit Group, a research and advocacy entity focused on sustainable local government systems and the rural economy of Nigeria, has expressed its dissatisfaction with the top-down implementation strategy for projects at the local government level.
According to the group’s communique issued at the end of its 2024 Economic Summit,
local governments are designed to bring government closer to the people, particularly at the grassroots level, and should prioritize welfare services, economic development, and community empowerment programs.
The communique highlights the importance of local governments in promoting development and improving the livelihoods of their citizens. “Local governments are created to bring government closer to the people, particularly at the grassroots level,” the communique states. “Development can be seen from social, economic, and political perspectives.
Socially, local governments should provide welfare services such as health, education, recreation, group formation, and social infrastructure. Economically, they should be involved in setting up cottage industries and facilitating community empowerment programs.”
However, the communique also highlights several challenges facing local government development projects. One of the major issues is the lack of involvement of non-governmental organizations and other parties concerned in the development process.
This has led to a top-down approach to project implementation, rather than a bottom-up approach that takes into account the needs and aspirations of the local community.
Another challenge is the inadequate funding of projects. Local governments often lack the financial resources to implement projects that can have a significant impact on the lives of their citizens. This has led to a situation where projects are often abandoned or not completed, leading to a lack of sustainability in programs.
The communique also notes that the politization of programs by those in power has been a major obstacle to development. This has led to a situation where programs are often designed to benefit the interests of those in power, rather than the needs of the local community.
Furthermore, the communique highlights the allegations of misappropriation and fraudulent use of government funds. This has led to a lack of trust in government and a sense of disillusionment among citizens.
To address these challenges, the summit recommends that local governments prioritize farming cooperatives and attract funding from key financial institutions, such as the Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry, and Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending. This can help to promote agricultural development and improve food security at the grassroots level.
The communique also recommends that local governments provide land for crop production and cash crops, and own at least 21% of the shares. This can help to promote local economic development and improve the livelihoods of citizens. In addition, the communique notes that local governments should leverage on community policing initiatives. This can help to improve security and promote a sense of safety among citizens.
The communique also emphasised the need for local governments to implement their own policies and promote growth and development. This can help to promote sustainable development and improve the livelihoods of citizens. As noted by the summit, despite efforts to date, over 70% of the Nigerian population still lives below the poverty threshold. This is attributed to weak political bases, lack of harmonization and coordination of activities, and lack of sustainability in programs.
“We respect our employees and community members, and strive to promote inclusion and diversity for a better tomorrow,” says LG, emphasizing the importance of social responsibility and human rights management. The communique provides a roadmap for the development of local governments in Nigeria, highlighting the challenges and providing recommendations for addressing them.
By implementing these recommendations, local governments can promote sustainable development and improve the livelihoods of their citizens. As advocacy expert Nicolien Wassenar notes, “Advocacy is a means to achieving equity and social justice through the empowerment of disadvantaged groups, including people with disabilities, so they actively participate and are directly included in decision-making processes affecting their lives”.
The communique is signed by representatives of various local government stakeholders and the umbrella body of the Local Government Economic Summit Group. Participating partners at the summit included the Husk Power System, Bank of Industry, and Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, among others. These partners played a crucial role in supporting the summit and promoting the development of local governments in Nigeria.
Overall, the communique provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges facing local government development projects in Nigeria and provides recommendations for addressing them. By implementing these recommendations, local governments can promote sustainable development and improve the livelihoods of their citizens.
