A member of the House of Representatives, Babajimi Benson, has linked Nigeria’s persistent insecurity to the refusal to implement local government autonomy.

Benson, who represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State, said an autonomous local government system would be more effective in addressing insecurity at the grassroots level.

The chairman of House Committee on Defence stated this in an interview with Sunday PUNCH.

While highlighting the urgent need for Nigeria to allocate at least five per cent of its annual Gross Domestic Product to the defence and security sector, Benson said local governments were well positioned to implement non-kinetic solutions to insecurity, such as intelligence gathering, community policing, youth empowerment, and de-radicalisation initiatives.

“The persistent refusal by some state governors to implement local government autonomy despite the constitutional backing and the directive by Mr President is a major contributing factor to the worsening security landscape,” he stated.

Benson added that the over-centralisation of local government funds and authority continues to strain both federal and state governments while weakening the country’s broader security framework.

He insisted that granting LGs financial and administrative independence would significantly enhance Nigeria’s internal security efforts.

Benson said, “Local governments, which are closest to the grassroots, are the most viable vehicles for implementing non-kinetic solutions to insecurity. An autonomous local government will not only have the financial independence to mobilise resources for local security initiatives, intelligence gathering, and community policing, but will also provide job opportunities, promote entrepreneurship and serve as an avenue for de-radicalisation.

“The centralisation of authority and control over local government funds continues to overburden federal and state governments and weakens the national security architecture at the foundational level.”

To further strengthen internal security, Benson called for the creation of state police under strict constitutional conditions.

He maintained that decentralised policing, alongside empowered local governments, would ensure more efficient responses to community-level security threats.