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Sunday Dare

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has challenged Nigeria’s 774 local government councils to convert the newly granted financial autonomy into visible development by embracing strategic partnerships with the private sector.

Dare said local government autonomy would only achieve its purpose if councils use the opportunity to improve healthcare, education, infrastructure, job creation and social services at the grassroots level.

The presidential aide made the call on Wednesday while delivering the keynote address at the Gazelle News Annual Lecture and Awards in Lagos, with the theme: “Driving Grassroots Governance with Public-Private Partnership: The Gains, the Pains and the Prospects.”

He described the Tinubu administration’s decision to strengthen local government autonomy as a major governance reform capable of changing the development trajectory of communities across Nigeria.

According to Dare, the direct disbursement of constitutionally approved funds to local governments provides a fresh opportunity for councils to become more responsive and accountable to citizens.

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He, however, stressed that financial independence must be matched with transparency, effective leadership and measurable results.

“Financial autonomy must translate into greater transparency, stronger accountability, improved service delivery and more meaningful partnerships with communities and the private sector. Only then will autonomy achieve its true purpose of improving the daily lives of Nigerians,” Dare said.

The presidential spokesperson argued that national development cannot be measured only by projects in major cities, noting that the real impact of governance is felt in communities where citizens interact daily with public services.

He identified schools, primary healthcare centres, rural roads, agricultural support systems and local economic opportunities as critical areas where improved grassroots governance must deliver results.

Dare urged local governments to see Public-Private Partnerships beyond traditional infrastructure financing, describing PPPs as a governance strategy that brings government, businesses, communities and civil society together to solve local challenges.

He said effective partnerships could help councils overcome funding limitations, improve project delivery, encourage innovation and rebuild citizens’ confidence in government.

The presidential aide, however, acknowledged that several challenges could undermine the success of PPPs at the local level, including weak institutional structures, poor transparency, inconsistent policies, limited technical capacity and lack of public trust.

To address these challenges, Dare called for professional local government administration, open procurement processes, technology-based accountability systems and stronger citizen participation.

He also encouraged councils to take advantage of Nigeria’s growing digital economy and youthful population by adopting data-driven solutions to improve revenue generation, education, healthcare and agricultural development.

Dare said technology could help local governments understand community needs better and design solutions tailored to specific environments.

“Nigeria’s greatest opportunity does not reside solely in Abuja or our state capitals. It resides in our wards, our villages and our towns. That is where governance must be felt, and where prosperity must begin,” he said.

The event brought together government officials, traditional rulers, diplomats, business leaders, media executives and other stakeholders who examined ways to strengthen grassroots governance through collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Dare maintained that the success of local government autonomy would ultimately depend on leadership, accountability and the willingness of councils to build partnerships that deliver sustainable improvements for Nigerians.

The Traffic NG
Sunday Dare
Amarachi Ihesiulo
The Traffic NG

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