AGF calls for abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions

By Christiana Ekpa

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has called for the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to strengthen local government autonomy.
He made the call at a National Discourse on Nigeria’s Security Challenges and Good Governance at the local government level in Abuja.
Fagbemi argued that despite constitutional provisions aimed at safeguarding local government autonomy, there have been instances of arbitrary dissolution, abolition, or fragmentation of local governments by higher tiers of government, particularly state governments. He cited Section 162 (5-8) of the Constitution, which empowers state assemblies to decide revenue allocation to local governments, as a facilitator of state encroachment on local revenues.
The Attorney General noted that cases of state hijacking of local government revenues are rampant, undermining the financial autonomy and ability of local governments to deliver on their statutory responsibilities. He also highlighted the lack of a consistent pattern of local government elections, with some state governors dissolving councils and appointing caretaker committees.
Fagbemi emphasized that under a true federal structure, local government autonomy is adequately guaranteed. However, the 1999 Constitution did not provide adequately for the political autonomy of local governments, leading to their poor performance in service delivery due to a lack of autonomy.
The Attorney General stressed that the failure to grant autonomy to local governments has resulted in their operating as appendages of state governments, rather than functioning as a tier of government. He advocated for constitutional reforms to increase fiscal and administrative autonomy, ensure inclusiveness and citizen participation, and capacitate local governments for effective governance.
Fagbemi commended the leadership of the House of Representatives for initiating a bold move to reposition governance structures and systems, enabling lasting solutions to security and governance challenges. He expressed his willingness to engage further with the leadership and members of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly to address these issues.