Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has called for urgent reforms to strengthen local governance, describing it as the foundation for effective democracy and national development in Nigeria.
Olaopa made the call while delivering the 9th annual lecture of the Binuyo Foundation at the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo, where he stressed that meaningful governance can only succeed when grassroots communities are fully integrated into the nation’s democratic structure.
Speaking on the theme of local governance and national transformation, the professor explained that democracy works best when citizens at the community level actively participate in governance and development processes.
According to him, the grassroots remain the point where millions of Nigerians directly experience government policies, making local governance essential for delivering the true dividends of democracy.
He noted that strengthening the public service alone would not solve governance challenges unless service delivery reaches rural communities and local populations effectively.
Reflecting on his upbringing in Okeho and Aáwé, Olaopa recalled a period when communities were built on strong moral values, communal unity and collective responsibility.
He explained that traditional African systems encouraged respect for elders, proper upbringing of children and community-driven development projects such as local schools and social infrastructure.
According to him, those values created stronger social bonds and helped communities organise themselves for progress and stability.
Olaopa lamented that military rule and excessive centralisation after the 1966 coup weakened local governance structures and disrupted Nigeria’s federal system.
He identified several factors that contributed to the decline of grassroots development, including the Land Use Act of 1976, urban migration, erosion of traditional values, neglect of agriculture and poor government attention to local infrastructure.
The professor also blamed the collapse of local policing systems, weak data collection structures and declining rural economic activities for worsening insecurity and social instability across communities.
Drawing from his academic experiences, Olaopa highlighted the importance of the Optimum Community Development model introduced by the late Professor Ojetunji Aboyade and Akinlawon Mabogunje.
He explained that the model focused on using local community structures, social mobilisation and collective participation as tools for development and poverty reduction.
According to him, traditional institutions and community leaders still possess enormous potential to support governance and development if properly integrated into Nigeria’s political framework.
Olaopa cited influential monarchs such as the Ooni of Ife, the Obi of Onitsha, the Emir of Kano and the Awujale of Ijebuland as examples of traditional rulers contributing positively to local development and governance.
He further argued that development should not only be measured through economic growth but also by improvements in citizens’ quality of life, education, healthcare and social wellbeing.
The professor referenced global development models such as the Human Development Index, Sustainable Development Goals and poverty reduction strategies aimed at ensuring no community is left behind.
Reviewing Nigeria’s local government history, Olaopa noted that the 1976 local government reforms recognised councils as the third tier of government, while later committees recommended stronger financial autonomy and constitutional roles for traditional rulers.
However, he said local governments have largely failed to fulfil their responsibilities due to weak institutional structures, poor accountability and excessive dependence on state governments.
To address the problem, Olaopa called for constitutional reforms that would clearly redefine relationships between federal, state and local governments while strengthening community participation in governance.
He also advocated stronger partnerships between local councils, traditional institutions and community-based organisations to improve service delivery and grassroots development.
The professor stressed the need for transparency, accountability systems and stronger performance monitoring mechanisms for local government projects and finances.
He equally urged authorities to focus on improving the administrative and operational capacity of local governments to enable them to implement reforms effectively.
According to him, Nigeria’s democratic future largely depends on how successfully the country rebuilds local governance and restores grassroots development structures.
Olaopa commended the Binuyo Foundation for keeping conversations around governance, development and national transformation alive through its annual lecture series.
