Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called for greater transparency in the management of local government funds, warning that political interference and weak accountability continue to undermine essential services at the grassroots.
Falana spoke at the University of Lagos during a screening of the investigative documentary LG Billions in the Dark, which examined local governance and public resources in Osun State.
He cited the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on local government financial autonomy and criticized what he described as continued interference by state authorities in council finances and administration.
According to Falana, the absence of visible improvements in roads, schools, healthcare and other basic services raises important questions about how allocations reaching local governments are spent.
He urged citizens to demand explanations from council officials and state governments rather than directing all scrutiny towards the federal government.
The lawyer also criticized local government electoral practices, arguing that outcomes overwhelmingly favoring governing parties weaken public trust and participation.
Falana called for stronger enforcement of compulsory basic education, better support for farmers and transparent management of mineral resources, including gold deposits in Osun State.
University of Lagos Vice Chancellor Folasade Ogunsola said competent and adequately resourced local governments were essential to addressing urban problems such as drainage, waste management, road maintenance and unsafe markets.
Dapo Olorunyomi, chief executive of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, urged journalists to make institutional accountability a central focus of their reporting.
The speakers’ concerns underscore the need for councils to publish accessible budgets, allocation records, procurement details and audited financial statements so residents can assess how public funds translate into local services.
