The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering local government institutions as a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth.
Speaking at a high-level policy dialogue hosted by AGORA Policy with support from the MacArthur Foundation, the Minister underscored that strengthening local governance is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s poverty reduction strategy. Grassroots empowerment is not just a governance issue, it’s an economic imperative, he said.
HM Edun referenced the Federal Government’s recent compliance with the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on local government autonomy, affirming that only democratically elected local councils now receive direct allocations from the Federation Account. This, he clarified, is not a policy choice but the government’s constitutional obligation to uphold the judgment of the highest court of the land.
To reinforce this shift, the Federal Government has launched targeted initiatives including the Nutrition 774 Programme, Project 774 Digital Connectivity, and the HOPE Programme supported by the World Bank. Each intervention is designed to drive outcomes in human capital development, digital access, and local-level service efficiency — all critical to unlocking Nigeria’s long-term productivity.
These are not symbolic gestures, Edun stated. They are structured investments in governance that catalyse private sector confidence, reduce economic exclusion, and foster scalable development.
He concluded by calling for deeper coordination between all tiers of government, emphasising that the full economic benefit of local government reform can only be realised through strategic collaboration and policy discipline.
Signed
Mohammed Manga FCAI
Director, Information and Public Relations
July 23, 2025
