The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, says local government autonomy is still being perfected for full implementation.
Gbajabiamila stated this on Saturday after casting his vote during the Lagos State council elections held on Saturday
He voted at his ward, Elizabeth Fowler Memorial Primary School, Surulere, Lagos.
Gbajabiamila said the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy was widely welcomed across Nigeria and represented a major step forward for grassroots governance.
“The challenge lies in execution and implementation. I believe that, in time, we will achieve full local government autonomy,” he said.
Gbajabiamila stressed that effective grassroots governance was impossible without full autonomy at the local government level.
“That’s what we’re working towards. The Supreme Court’s pronouncement is law. In time, autonomy will be fully realised,” he added.
He, however, expressed concern about low voter turnout across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas in Lagos.
“There is generally low turnout so far, perhaps because many do not understand the importance of local government elections.
“In some countries, this level of election is even more important than others. We must sensitise and educate our people more,” he urged.
