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RMAFC Advocates Full Autonomy for Local Governments, Thumbs FG
Joel Ajayi
The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has advocated for full autonomy for Local Government Councils (“LGCs”) in the country just as it backs the Federal Government in its ongoing efforts to free LGCs from the firm control of State Governments through legal means by giving effect to the provisions of the Constitution.
The RMAFC Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, in a statement, signed by the Head, of Information and Public Relations Maryam Umar Yusuf revealed that LGCs, as the third tier of government domesticated at the grassroots level, ought to be outside the control of State and Federal governments as they are solely established to ensure effective governance at the grassroots.
The Constitution of Nigeria recognizes federal, state, and local governments as three tiers of government and that the three recognized tiers of government draw funds for their operation and function from the Federation Account created by the Constitution
Mr. Shehu decried State governments’ dominance over the affairs of LGCs which emasculate their political, administrative, and fiscal independence hence their inability to provide quality service delivery in infrastructure and social services to the grassroots as provided for in the Constitution.
He noted that the political control of LGCs has made it virtually difficult and almost impossible for the masses to decide who becomes their leaders at that level of governance, which is closest to the people.
The statement added that the Commission thinks that giving full autonomy to LGCs will reduce the rate of poverty and rural-urban migration, and bring more dividends of democracy to the people just as it will attract more qualified candidates for council elections that will improve the governance system at all levels in the long run.
“Full autonomy will engender good governance, transparency, and accountability at the local level. Security challenges like banditry, kidnappings, terrorism, electoral violence, etc, would be reduced to the barest minimum if the quantum of funds meant for local governments is channeled towards rural development.”
He added. “This will raise agricultural productivity, increase income generation, arrest rural-urban migration, create wealth, and generally improve the socio-economic living conditions of the rural populace”.
The Chairman posited that the current spate of insecurity in all parts of the country could be arrested if LGCs are granted full autonomy as local government administration being the closest level of government for effective participation of the teeming population of the country in its governance system would avail the local population greater independence to determine their development needs.
Mr. Shehu emphasized the importance of granting full autonomy to LGCs, allowing them to recruit, manage staff, raise finances, make bylaws, and discharge their functions without State government interference, thereby ensuring their full bureaucratic autonomy.
“Financial autonomy of local government entails the freedom to impose local taxation, generate revenue within its assigned sources, allocate its financial and material resources, determine and authorize its annual budgets without external interference. It also relates to the disposition of tax powers, retention of revenue, and methods adopted in sharing centrally collected revenue per the constitutional responsibilities of all levels of government”. He maintained.
The Chairman further said, “It is worth noting that the Constitution has made it explicitly clear that there must be a democratically elected local government system in place and that the Constitution has not made provisions for any other systems of governance at the Local Government level other than democratically elected local government system”
It is the position of the RMAFC that Local Governments should be granted fiscal autonomy by paying statutory allocations from the Federation Account directly to their coffers.
The Commission therefore fully supports the ongoing suit instituted by the Federal Government asking for an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channeled to them from the Federation Account.
He stressed that RMAFC would continue to be a strategic partner in the efforts to reposition local government councils to discharge their constitutional responsibilities in Nigeria, calling on CSOs and the media to be at the forefront of efforts to ensure that local government autonomy becomes a reality in Nigeria.
News
PSIN Administrator Commends Yobe Government for Championing Leadership Continuity and Institutional Sustainability
Cyril Igele
The Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Barrister Imeh Okon, has applauded the Yobe State Government for its strong commitment to leadership continuity and sustainable governance through strategic investment in human capital development.
Barrister Okon gave the commendation at the opening of a Management Retreat for Yobe State Permanent Secretaries, held at the PSIN headquarters in Abuja.
The retreat, themed “Succession Planning, Leadership Continuity, and Institutional Sustainability in the Yobe State Public Service,” convened senior bureaucrats and resource persons to discuss strategies for strengthening leadership and governance within the state’s civil service.
In her remarks, the PSIN Administrator praised Governor Mai Mala Buni for his foresight and partnership in prioritizing public sector training and capacity development. She described the theme of the retreat as both “timely and visionary,” emphasizing that institutions endure only when leadership is continuous, knowledge is shared, and systems—not individuals—drive performance.
“Institutions thrive not merely on structures or policies, but on the deliberate cultivation of capable leaders who can sustain progress across generations,” she said. “By prioritizing leadership continuity and institutional resilience, Yobe State is leading by example.”
Barrister Okon reiterated PSIN’s mandate to build a competent, ethical, and innovative public service capable of delivering tangible results to citizens. She stressed that effective succession planning must be anchored in continuous training, mentorship, and exposure to emerging governance trends.
Citing best practices from Singapore and the United Kingdom, Okon noted that successful public service systems deliberately identify and nurture potential leaders through structured talent pipelines and transparent career development programmes. According to her, Yobe State’s initiative reflects its readiness to sustain excellence in governance.
She also highlighted PSIN’s flagship programmes—SMART-P, which builds administrative and technical capacity; LEAD-P, designed to groom emerging leaders; and the Exit from Service Masterclass, which prepares officers for life after service. Okon urged the Yobe Government to adopt the Exit Masterclass into its human resource framework to ensure a smooth transition for retirees, preserve institutional knowledge, and promote productivity through entrepreneurship and consultancy.
“Succession planning is not an event but a culture that must be institutionalised at every level of public administration,” she added. “When we prepare successors in advance and invest in continuous learning, we guarantee the sustainability of reforms and consistency in governance.”
Declaring the retreat open, the Acting Head of Service of Yobe State, Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu, reaffirmed Governor Buni’s commitment to building a results-driven and high-performing public service.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service, Alhaji Shehu, the Acting Head of Service expressed gratitude to God and lauded PSIN as the “mother institution of public service learning.” He stated that Governor Buni has consistently directed the Office of the Head of Service to promote seamless succession planning and capacity building to enhance efficiency and accountability across government institutions.
“In line with this directive, we have brought the top echelon of the state civil service to PSIN—being the drivers and core implementers of government policies and programmes—to strengthen continuity and sustainability in our reforms,” he said.
He urged participants to fully engage in the retreat, share experiences, and cascade the knowledge gained to officers across ministries, departments, and agencies. The exercise, he explained, forms part of a deliberate strategy to institutionalize effective succession planning within the Yobe State Civil Service, thereby ensuring sustained productivity and improved service delivery to citizens.
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