ABUJA — Former presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu Garba, has stirred fresh debate over Nigeria’s third tier of government, describing local government councils as little more than “Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)” for state governors.
In a statement shared via his X handle, Garba called for the outright scrapping of the local government system, dismissing it as a “paper-only, money-sharing third tier of government” that has failed to serve the people.
“One of the most inefficient, ineffective back pockets of some state governors is the local government councils. Local governments take their legislation from the state assemblies, and you know what that means. Autonomy or not, the LGs are still ATMs of some state governors,” Garba wrote.
He further argued that Nigeria is the only country operating a third tier of government and insisted the structure has proven “non-workable.”
“Since it proved to be non-workable, why not scrap it?” he queried.
Instead of struggling for local government autonomy, Garba suggested that their powers and responsibilities be transferred to traditional rulers, whom he believes are better positioned to administer grassroots governance in line with local culture and traditions.
“Instead of struggling to get constitutional authority to our traditional rulers, they should be handed over the local government councils and let them run it according to the local culture and tradition of the people within their domain,” he added.
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