Former Minister of Works and ex-Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has stated that it is unrealistic to expect constitutional autonomy for local governments, arguing that they were not designed to operate independently.
Fashola made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television on Saturday, where he addressed the longstanding debate over local government autonomy.
“After a close reading of the constitution, it is unrealistic to expect autonomy for local governments. They were not meant to be autonomous,” Fashola said.
Citing constitutional provisions, he noted that local governments operate under the authority of state assemblies, which undermines any claim to full autonomy.
“For instance, the constitution provides that state houses of assembly make laws for local governments. If you look at the definition of autonomy — the ability to act independently without external influence — this arrangement contradicts that notion,” he explained.
Fashola argued that what the constitution envisions is not autonomy, but rather a framework of oversight and cooperation between state and local governments.
“What I believe was intended is collaboration and supervision by the states. This is also reflected in Section 162, which establishes the State Joint Local Government Account,” he said.
He also recalled that until 1999, local governments received funds directly from the federation account, under what was then referred to as the joint account system.
