APPRAISAL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY AS A TOOL FOR THE POLITICAL RESTRUCTURING OF THE NIGERIAN FEDERATION

Abstract

The clamour for the restructuring of the Nigerian Federation has not yielded any positive result for some decades now. It has become a song on the lips of many Nigerians but with no result. The persistent call for restructuring takes different dimensions, but particularly outstanding is in the dimension of restructuring the political structure of the country through the autonomy of the local government. This is anchored on the fact that the existence of every State/Nation and the control of its resources bother on politics. President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014 held National Conference in a bid to restructure the country politically but all the suggestions and the outcome of the National Conference have not yielded any meaningful result as the suggestions seems not tenable. Autonomy of the local governments in Nigeria is the most ideal way of politically restructuring the Nigerian federation. Local Governments are constitutionally created with some functions it renders to the rural people. The autonomy of the local government is necessary not only as the closest government to the people but as a training ground for Politicians who will receive political instructions at that level. Local Government autonomy is the way forward in restructuring Nigeria. The methodology adopted in this research is purely doctrinal; while the approach is principally comparative and interdisciplinary. This paper found out that autonomy of the local government is the best way to restructure Nigeria politically. This paper finds out that political restructuring of the Nigerian Federation will be best achieved through the autonomy of the local government. This paper recommends solutions to the numerous challenges hindering the restructuring of Nigeria through the autonomy of the local government.