House of Reps Initiates National Dialogue on Local Government Autonomy

By Samaila Emmanuel Bzugu

In a significant development, the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has announced plans to hold a national dialogue on local government autonomy on December 2, 2024. The dialogue, which will take place in Abuja, aims to consolidate ideas and strategies to enhance the independence of local government administration in Nigeria.

The committee plans to commence zonal public hearings in January 2025

Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Committee, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, revealed that the dialogue would provide a vital platform for stakeholders to contribute to the ongoing constitutional review efforts. In addition to the national dialogue, the committee plans to conduct other public engagements, including discussions on tax reforms and consultations with political parties.

As part of its broader agenda, the committee plans to commence zonal public hearings in January 2025. These hearings will take place in 12 states representing the six geopolitical zones, with the aim of gathering input from a wide range of stakeholders. The selected states for the hearings are: Gombe and  Borno in the North East, Nasarawa, Niger in north Central zone, Kaduna and Sokoto in north western region, Enugu and Imo from South East, Bayelsa and Cross River to host the south south dialogue while South West region will hold in Lagos, Ondo.

Kalu emphasized that these engagements would further consolidate efforts to achieve a constitutional framework that reflects the aspirations of Nigerians.