Agora Policy, a prominent public policy think tank, is set to convene a critical dialogue aimed at thoroughly assessing the progress and inherent challenges faced by local government reforms in Nigeria. This significant event comes precisely one year after the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court, which granted substantial financial autonomy to Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the nation. The dialogue, aptly themed ‘Local Governance Reforms a Year After Supreme Court’s Ruling’, is scheduled to take place on July 22, 2025, at the prestigious Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

The core objective of this conversation, as articulated by Agora Policy, is to meticulously “dissect the promise and the challenges of local governance reforms in Nigeria a year after the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court”. This initiative seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for introspection and strategic planning regarding the future of local governance. The event is expected to draw a diverse and influential audience, including high-ranking government officials, dedicated civil society leaders, and essential development partners, all converging to reflect deeply on the practical implementation and ramifications of the Supreme Court’s judgment.

The Supreme Court’s decisive ruling, delivered on July 11, 2024, was a pivotal moment for local governance in Nigeria. It explicitly mandated that the federal government disburse financial allocations directly to LGAs, thereby bypassing state control, and unequivocally prohibited state governors from appointing caretaker committees to manage these local councils. Furthermore, the court directed the federal government to withhold funds from any LGAs still being overseen by caretaker chairmen, reinforcing the mandate for democratically elected leadership. Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation, lauded this ruling as a monumental and “decisive step in freeing the local government system from the shackles of the past,” signifying a new era of enhanced autonomy and accountability for local administrations.

Since the issuance of this groundbreaking verdict, there has been tangible progress, with elections successfully conducted across several LGAs to fill previously vacant council positions, aligning with the court’s directive for elected leadership. This pivotal event by Agora Policy is being generously supported by the MacArthur Foundation, in strategic partnership with TheCable and the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity, underscoring its importance and the collaborative effort behind addressing crucial governance issues in Nigeria.