The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with Social Development Integrated Centre have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to transmit the Local Government Autonomy Bill to the National Assembly for speedy passage to allow them to function as third tier of government.
The Senior Programmes Officer and Project Manager of Social Action, Dr Prince Ekpere, made the call during a one-day citizen and government consultative dialogue on inclusive budgeting for effective service delivery in Maiduguri.
Reps investigate abandonment of Kano-Maiduguri Road project
How camel meat is gaining popularity in Maiduguri
He said the autonomy of the local government will guarantee development in rural communities, reduce rural urban migration and create more jobs and businesses.
According to him, between 2001 and 2018, N14.7 trillion was disbursed to the 774 local governments in Nigeria, but much of these funds were mismanaged by state governments, while communities wallow in total lack of infrastructure and human capital development.