Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has initiated a crucial step towards decentralizing governance by inaugurating a seven-member Local Government Autonomy Advisory Committee.
The committee, established in Jalingo, is mandated to guide the state’s implementation of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling granting full autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local government councils.
Kefas envisions this move as a cornerstone for a more democratic, accountable, and efficient governance structure in Taraba State. The governor’s decision aligns with his administration’s broader commitment to empowering local communities and transferring power closer to the people.
Underscoring the significance of the Supreme Court’s judgment, Kefas reaffirmed his earlier plan to conduct local government elections on November 18, 2023, and subsequently swear in the elected chairmen on November 23, 2023. This decisive action demonstrates the governor’s determination to ensure that local governments possess the necessary legitimacy and authority to effectively serve their constituents.
In a bid to expedite the autonomy process, Kefas has directed the Bureau for Local Government, Traditional, and Chieftaincy Affairs to grant council chairmen full control over the Joint Account and all administrative functions. This transfer of financial and administrative power is expected to enhance local government autonomy and responsiveness.
The newly constituted advisory committee will play a pivotal role in overseeing the implementation of local government autonomy. With a broad mandate encompassing financial management, capacity building, administrative reforms, and community engagement, the committee is poised to provide strategic guidance and support to local governments during this transformative period.
Committee chairman Abel Peter Diah expressed optimism about the positive implications of the Supreme Court’s verdict on local government finances, emphasizing its potential to strengthen democracy and good governance at the grassroots level.
