By Milcah Tanimu
Non-governmental organization Yiaga Africa has emphasized the need for greater transparency in local government administration in Nigeria. The call was made by the group’s Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbamalu, during an advocacy roundtable on legislative reform for improved local government elections held in Kaduna.
Yiaga Africa, known for promoting democratic governance, human rights, and civic engagement, stresses that transparency will empower citizens to demand accountability both in daily governance and during elections. Mbamalu highlighted the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in developing robust accountability mechanisms and acting as watchdogs.
Mbamalu urged collaboration between CSOs and local government bodies to educate citizens on the responsibilities of elected officials and the role of citizens in governance. This education should reorient the electorate toward community-focused demands rather than personalized requests from leaders.
She also called for legislative reforms to clearly define the composition, finance, and functions of local government councils, suggesting that the National Assembly should prescribe these measures. By setting minimum criteria for the creation of local governments, state-level manipulation by governors and legislators can be minimized, thus enhancing the responsiveness of local councils.
Furthermore, Mbamalu pointed out the increasing use of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process to boost accountability and integrity, noting that this advancement is mostly seen at the national level. She advocated for incorporating technology into local government elections to simplify processes and enhance transparency.
She acknowledged that while CSOs in Nigeria are recognized as vital watchdogs in the electoral process, their capacity to reform local government elections is limited. To address this, she called for systematic capacity-building programs to equip civil society actors with the necessary tools for effective engagement.
Dr. Asmau Maikudi, a member of Yiaga Africa’s Working Group, highlighted the local government system as crucial to Nigeria’s governance. She pointed out that the legitimacy of local governments often comes into question, affecting public confidence and support for the democratic system. Maikudi stressed that legitimate and accountable local government elections are essential for effective governance in Nigeria.
Kaduna State Government’s Secretary, Dr. Abdulkadir Maiyere, praised Yiaga Africa’s contributions to democracy. Represented by Ibrahim Sambo, Maiyere reaffirmed Kaduna’s commitment to democracy, noting that the state was the first to use electronic voting in local government elections.
The event brought together representatives from political parties, CSOs, the legislature, and the state’s electoral commission, emphasizing the collective effort needed to enhance the quality of local government elections in Nigeria.
