Supreme Court Ruling: EFCC Pledges To Ensure Accountability In Local Governments
Following the Supreme Court’s recent decision granting financial independence to local governments, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has committed to enhancing its oversight of local government activities. The agency aims to ensure adherence to good governance principles, accountability, and transparency.
On Monday, the announcement was made at a national dialogue organized by Agora Policy, themed “Enthroning Accountability in Local Government in Nigeria,” held in Abuja.
Representing the EFCC Chairman, Friday Ebelo stated, “Good governance encompasses three essential elements: accountability, transparency, and citizen participation. For these elements to be effective, we need dedicated and development-minded individuals to manage local government administrations.”
The EFCC emphasized its commitment to monitoring local government activities, stating, “We must make a deliberate effort to bring the presence of governance to our people, ensuring that citizens feel the impact of governance in their daily lives, particularly in areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.”
The commission warned against a “business as usual” approach, signaling a renewed focus on holding local governments accountable for their actions.
Waziri Adio, founder of Agora Policy, highlighted the need for reform in rural government areas, stating, “Local government areas are the least trusted, least capacitated, and least interesting to the public.” He noted that local governments are failing to meet expectations despite being tasked with crucial functions.
Adio cited Afrobarometer’s 2008 survey, which found that “only 28 percent of citizens trusted local government administration, down from 58 percent in 2000.” He advocated for increased awareness, engagement, and accountability, emphasizing the need for direct public involvement in decision-making.
Adio added, “We need to increase awareness, engagement, and accountability. This requires vertical, horizontal, and diagonal accountability mechanisms.”
Kole Shettima, Africa Director of the MacArthur Foundation, stressed the need for local governance reform, sharing an anecdote about a villager who expected President Buhari to address a local water issue. “This shows the mentality of our people, expecting the president to fix all problems,” Shettima said.
He praised the Agora Policy Center for fostering policy discussions and acknowledged local government efforts to involve citizens in decision-making.
