Senator Adams Oshiomhole has endorsed the financial autonomy of local governments in Nigeria, praising its potential for equitable development. He emphasized the role of local government chairmen in managing resources for infrastructure, while humorously suggesting that 774 local government leaders, even if corrupt, are preferable to one corrupt state leader.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has expressed strong support for the financial autonomy of local governments in Nigeria. His remarks followed the Supreme Court's July 2024 ruling affirming this autonomy. Speaking at a House of Representatives forum, Oshiomhole emphasized the significance of local government chairmen in ensuring effective governance.
The former Edo State governor pointed out that local government leaders, being closest to the people, hold significant responsibility in managing resources for critical infrastructure, including roads and healthcare facilities. Oshiomhole highlighted the importance of accountability in governance, stressing that local leaders must allocate resources wisely to meet the needs of their communities.
Oshiomhole’s comments took a lighter turn when he quipped, “It’s better to have 774 local government chairmen who are thieves than one big thief.” He explained that decentralizing power and wealth would allow each local government to contribute to wealth creation, with the potential for multiple billionaires emerging from different regions, instead of having one wealthy individual dominating the state. This statement underscored his belief in the necessity of local government autonomy to drive equitable development and ensure that the nation’s resources are distributed more evenly across its regions.
