Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North in the Nigerian Senate, has shown strong support for giving local governments financial independence. His statement came after the Supreme Court’s ruling on July 11, 2024, which upheld the financial autonomy of local governments across Nigeria.

Speaking at a forum on local government autonomy organized by the House of Representatives on December 2, Oshiomhole emphasized that integrity and accountability are key to effective governance. He explained that local government chairmen, being closer to the people, are best positioned to use funds to provide essential infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, and other public services.

Oshiomhole argued that decentralizing financial power to local governments could benefit communities more. He stated, “It’s better to have 774 local government chairmen who might misuse funds than one individual controlling everything.” According to him, this arrangement would ensure that resources are spread across all local governments, creating wealth in different communities instead of concentrating it in the hands of a single person.

By advocating for local government autonomy, Oshiomhole highlighted the need for fair distribution of resources and improved service delivery at the grassroots level.