Across the globe, the legitimacy of government rests on its ability to deliver visible results—security, economic opportunity, infrastructure, and social welfare. Whether in Washington or Abuja, whether federal or municipal, government must serve its ultimate constitutional mandate: the well-being and happiness of the people. For Nigeria, the urgency of this mandate could not be more pressing.

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes it explicitly clear. As stated in Section 14(2)(b), “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” And yet, more than two decades into uninterrupted democratic rule, many Nigerians feel abandoned by those in power. Poverty is rising, infrastructure is collapsing, and social services are failing. One key reason for this persistent failure is the undermining of governance at the grassroots—where government is meant to be most impactful.

The Centrality of Local Governance

The term economics itself comes from the Greek roots “Oikos” (household) and “Nomos” (rule), pointing to the management of household resources—a metaphor for how government should manage the commonwealth of its people. This underscores the deeply local nature of economic planning and social intervention. People do not live in abstractions—they live in communities, towns, and cities. Therefore, political and economic decisions must begin from those same spaces.

The Nigerian Constitution anticipates this. Section 7 mandates the establishment of local government councils and assigns them responsibilities including economic planning and development. It even calls for the formation of economic planning boards at the state level to ensure coordinated development. Yet, this provision is largely ignored by State Assemblies and Governors across the country.

This deliberate neglect has left local governments starved of both autonomy and funding. Despite the Revenue Act of 1981, which mandates states to remit 10% of their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to local governments, compliance has been abysmal. Recent rulings by the Supreme Court reaffirming local government financial independence have also met stiff resistance.

The Invisible Billions: What Are State Governors Doing with FAAC Inflows?

One of the most consequential reforms undertaken in recent Nigerian history is the removal of fuel subsidies—a policy decision initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari and continued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While this move increased economic pressure on ordinary Nigerians, it also dramatically boosted revenue inflows to state governments.

By many accounts, state allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) have doubled or even tripled since the subsidy removal. Yet, beyond increased security votes and consistent payment of salaries, there is no proportionate developmental footprint across most states.

The critical question now is: Where is the money going? The answer remains vague.

Presidential spokesmen have repeatedly hinted at their frustration with governors who have failed to translate increased revenues into improved service delivery. But rhetoric is not enough. Nigerians deserve a transparent, coordinated, and visionary deployment of public funds. State governments must now take responsibility for initiating development from within, rather than remaining dependent outposts of the federal purse.

The Role of State Governments: Beyond Salaries and Security Votes

The First Republic presents a model for what states can achieve when they own and drive development. The regional governments then were active in agricultural production, infrastructure, education, and industrialisation—financed largely through revenue from primary products like cocoa, rubber, groundnuts, and hides and skins.

Today, state governments have similar opportunities, particularly in light of new constitutional powers devolved to them. During his tenure, President Buhari moved prisons, railways, and electricity from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List, allowing states to independently legislate and operate in these sectors. President Tinubu has gone further by ceding regulatory powers on electricity to states, a transformative move that opens doors for energy self-sufficiency.

The possibilities are vast:

• Farm settlements to boost food security and export revenue

• Industrial estates to catalyse small and medium-sized manufacturing

• Waterworks for homes, factories, and agriculture

• State-owned rail lines for efficient logistics and human transport

• Off-grid electricity generation and distribution for urban and rural productivity

State governments are now armed with the authority, funds, and opportunity to transform their regions. What remains is political will.

Think Regionally, Act Locally: The Case for Zonal Integration

To accelerate this shift, inter-state collaboration within geopolitical zones should be encouraged. When neighbouring states coordinate policies and pool resources, they benefit from economies of scale and eliminate wasteful duplication.

A practical example lies in Lagos and Ogun States—home to Nigeria’s most concentrated industrial activity. Joint infrastructure investment between Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Governor Dapo Abiodun could lead to shared electricity grids, transportation hubs, and industrial corridors. Such synergy would not only improve IGR for both states but also create jobs, attract foreign investment, and reduce dependency on the federal centre.

Local Governments: Reclaiming Grassroots Governance

For genuine development to take root, local governments must be resurrected from the current state of irrelevance. With expanded revenues from state remittances and FAAC allocations, local governments should be tasked with:

• Primary school development

• Basic healthcare infrastructure

• Local road repairs

• Community policing initiatives

• Small-scale irrigation and agro-processing

Even prisons, now concurrent responsibilities, can be decentralised to the local level to reduce congestion and promote community-level rehabilitation. However, this will only be possible when competent, educated, and visionary professionals begin to contest local government elections and reclaim governance from career political appointees and stooges.

The Media’s Role: Beyond Abuja and Aso Rock

To ensure accountability, the Nigerian media must expand its coverage beyond federal politics. Democracy does not end at the gates of the National Assembly. The failures—or successes—of local and state governments are just as important as the decisions made in Aso Rock.

This is where the revival of community newspapers and regional broadcasting outlets becomes critical. When media organisations begin to focus on the performance of state governors and local council chairpersons, these public officials will no longer be able to hide in anonymity or escape scrutiny.

Coverage must include:

• How state budgets are planned and executed

• Which contractors are delivering on infrastructure projects

• How local government funds are utilised

• How IGR is collected and deployed

Holding government accountable must become a national habit, not a periodic ritual.

Democracy Beyond Ballots: Restoring Public Trust

Nigerians have long been told that democracy is the best form of government. Yet for millions, democracy remains a hollow promise. Real democracy is not just about voting every four years—it’s about living with dignity every day. It’s about good schools, working hospitals, reliable electricity, clean water, and safe streets.

But for this to happen, government must return to the people—starting at the local level. State governors must behave as agents of development, not just political overlords. Local councils must rise from the ashes of irrelevance and become vehicles of economic transformation. And citizens must understand that politics begins at their doorsteps, not just in Abuja.

Conclusion: Building Nigeria from the Bottom Up

If Nigeria is to achieve its full potential, it must restructure its approach to governance—not just by amending the constitution but by revitalising the institutions and layers of government that are closest to the people.

Let every Nigerian demand accountability not just from the president, but also from their governor, local government chairman, councillor, and legislator. Let every media house, civil society organisation, and professional body recognise that local governance is the foundation of national progress.

Only then will the constitutional promise of “security and welfare of the people” become more than a phrase—it will become our national reality.