By Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa Ph.D

Hon. Bolarinwa opened the Day 5 interview series with a striking question: “How can democracy be complete if the government closest to the people is the weakest?”

He explained that the strength of any federal system lies not only in the centre or the states, but also in the empowerment of local governments, the tier of government that touches people’s daily lives most directly.

He expressed his thoughts through a wise proverb: “A tree that will bear good fruit must first take deep roots.”

He compared this to Nigeria’s governance structure, noting that without strong local governments, development will remain shallow and uneven.

Hon. Bolarinwa explained that President Tinubu’s stance on local government financial autonomy is rooted in the belief that power must return to the grassroots. When local councils are financially strenghtened and functional, he said, citizens will feel the real impact of governance in areas such as:

• Primary education and healthcare,
• Local infrastructure like roads, markets, and drainage systems,
• Community policing and security, and
• Huge support for Agriculture.

He pointed out that too often, local governments have been reduced to administrative extensions of state governments, with their allocations either withheld or diverted.

True financial autonomy, he argued, means direct access to resources, financial transparency, and accountability at the grassroots level.

Hon. Bolarinwa further highlighted that empowering local governments will reduce rural-urban migration, create jobs within communities, and ensure equitable development across Nigeria.

He then provided a brief SWOT analysis

Strengths:

• Brings governance closer to the people.
• Encourages accountability and transparency at the grassroots.
• Boosts rural development and reduces pressure on urban centres.

Weaknesses:

• Poor capacity and administrative gaps in some local councils.
• Risk of corruption if oversight mechanisms are weak.
• Possible resistance from state governments unwilling to lose control.

Opportunities:

• Stronger grassroots participation in democracy.
• Empowered councils can drive agriculture, education, and health delivery.
• Local job creation reduces unemployment.
• Improved security rooted in community support.

Threats:

• Political interference from higher levels of government.
• Mismanagement of funds at the local level.
• Potential conflict between states and councils over resource control.

Hon. Bolarinwa concluded by stressing that local government financial autonomy is not about weakening the states, but about strengthening Nigeria from the bottom up. He said, “If the grassroots thrive, the nation will stand firm.

True federalism must begin in the villages, wards, and communities where the people live their daily lives.”

Signed

Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, PhD