Key Points
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Kano governor backs bill for local government autonomy.
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Reform aims to grant councils financial independence.
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Grassroots communities hope for better governance delivery.
Kano, Nigeria — Abba Kabir Yusuf, the governor of Kano State, has said he supports a constitutional amendment that would give Nigeria’s 774 local governments full autonomy. He called the change “critical” to unlocking development at the grassroots level.
At a policy roundtable in Kano that included lawmakers, civil society leaders, and academics, the governor’s position was made public. Yusuf, who was elected as a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party, said that giving councils more financial and administrative freedom will make government more accessible to regular people.
The governor of Kano wants local governments to be free
According to a report by the Punch news, Yusuf, with the help of Kano State House of Assembly Speaker Jibril Falgore and Majority Leader Lawan Danzago, told lawmakers across the country to support the bill. He said, “True federalism is not possible without strong local councils.” “We need to put an end to the time when state governments stifle local government.”
Right now, state executives are in charge of how the federal government spends money in their states. They can choose when to release funds. Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, a critic and opposition figure, says this system encourages corruption and makes it harder to hold people accountable. Yusuf said, “If we want to see real schools, clinics, and markets in our villages, councils must be able to manage resources directly.”
The autonomy bill has sparked a national debate
The amendment that is currently in front of the House of Representatives would give councils direct access to federal funds and protect elected council executives from being fired by governors without cause. The initiative has gotten support from civil society groups, and the Centre for Democracy and Development called it “a once-in-a-generation chance” to improve governance at the local level.
Aisha Abdullahi, who runs the Kano Civil Society Forum, said that Yusuf’s support was great. She said, “When a big name from the north like Kano joins the call, the push for change gets stronger.” “We want to give local governments more power, not less.”
Supporters see a chance for grassroots growth
Some researchers and analysts say that Yusuf’s position could have an effect on other northern governors. Kabiru Danladi, a political science professor at Bayero University Kano, said, “This shows that local government autonomy is no longer seen as a regional or partisan demand, but as a national priority.”
Still, some people will fight back. Some governors, like Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau and Usman Ododo of Kogi, have said they are worried about the council’s ability to handle direct funding because of the risk of corruption.
Yusuf didn’t care about those worries and said that reform is long overdue. He said, “The people in our wards can’t wait another ten years.” “Local government independence isn’t just a policy; it’s fair for communities at the bottom.”
