The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has reaffirmed the parliament’s commitment to granting full operational autonomy to Local Government Areas (LGAs).
He also highlighted that judicial reform is a top priority to enhance the independence, accountability, and efficiency of the judiciary.
Abbas, represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, made these remarks at the ‘Learning, Dissemination and Inception’ event organised by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and the Partnership to Engage, Reform, and Learn (PERL) project with the theme ‘From PERL to PACE: Learning to Sustain Democratic Governance in Nigeria’.
Reiterating the importance of local governance and judicial reform in Nigeria’s 10th Legislative Agenda, he noted that these reforms are essential for empowering LGAs and strengthening democratic institutions.
He said; “One area of particular concern is the local government system, a vital but often neglected tier of governance. As our Legislative Agenda outlines, we are committed to ensuring that local governments have full financial and operational autonomy. These reforms are essential for empowering local governments to serve their communities effectively and restoring public trust in grassroots governance.
The Speaker praised the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) and other partners for their role in promoting democracy in Nigeria, stating that lessons from their initiatives would guide future progress in the National Assembly.
