Repositioning Local Government Administration for Improved Social Service Delivery in Nigeria

Nigerian local governments have fallen short of fulfilling their mandates by failing to provide essential services effectively. This position aligns with many experts’ belief that local governments in Nigeria have failed to justify their existence by providing revolutionary services to rural residents. Local governments do not always serve the local populace’s needs. As a result, households function as their local government, securing basics like electricity, water, security, and healthcare. Despite receiving around 16.4 trillion Naira ($76 billion) between 2011 and 2021, local governments in Nigeria have provided essentially no public goods and services.

In this Policy Weekly, Nextier examines the history of Nigeria’s local government system, focusing on its administrative origins and subsequent modifications aimed at decentralising governance and improving grassroots development.

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