A civil society organisation has said that administrative and financial autonomy for local councils is a critical, non-kinetic strategy to combat insecurity and foster development.

The Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights coordinator, Emeka Ononammadu, in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, said this on Monday in Umuahia while unveiling the executive summary of the CSO’s policy brief on LGA autonomy.

The brief is titled ‘Local Government Autonomy and Improved Accountability: A pathway to Rural Development, Economic Growth and Democratic Deepening in Nigeria’.

Mr Ononammadu said that by controlling their own resources, LGAs can directly tackle the root causes of crime, poverty and lack of opportunity at the community level.

The CCIDESOR and NCSSR also called on Mr Tinubu to initiate an immediate constitutional amendment to remove states from LG accounts and establish a direct allocation mechanism for LGAs.

The group further urged the federal government to strengthen oversight of anti-corruption agencies and develop a national accountability framework for LGAs.

They called on state governments to cease interfering in LGA administration and finances and to provide technical support rather than control to the LGAs.

The group called on local governments to publish budgets and financial reports regularly, engage citizens in participatory budgeting processes, strengthen internal accounting systems and prioritise constitutional responsibilities.

They further called on the media to investigate and report on LGAs’ spending, successes, and failures, and to promote transparency narratives while amplifying citizens’ voices.

(NAN)