The Senator representing Kano South, Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, has raised concerns over the persistent poverty at the grassroots despite huge federal allocations to Local Governments, insisting that only full autonomy can bring meaningful development.
Speaking during a live interview, Kawu said the 44 Local Government Areas in Kano State received a staggering ₦130.74bn between January and June 2025, but the impact was not felt because of lack of autonomy.
According to official records cited by the lawmaker, Kano Central’s 15 LGAs got ₦49.42bn, Kano South’s 16 LGAs received ₦45.46bn, while Kano North’s 13 LGAs collected ₦35.87bn within the period.
“Nassarawa Local Government emerged the highest recipient with ₦5.12bn, while Tofa got the least with ₦2.34bn,” he disclosed.
Kawu argued that the situation was not peculiar to Kano, noting that federal disbursements to LGAs nationwide had risen by 95 to 125 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.
“Yet, despite this financial windfall, youth unemployment still hovers above 40 per cent in many states, healthcare remains overstretched, schools are underfunded, and poverty levels show little or no reduction,” he lamented.
The senator stressed that beyond allocations from the Federation Account, LGAs also generate revenue internally and attract grants and donor interventions, making their potential impact far greater if funds were managed independently.
“Imagine if our Local Governments had the autonomy to directly manage their allocations, IGR, and grants. They could employ our youths, empower indigenous contractors, boost local markets, respond swiftly to emergencies, and upgrade schools and hospitals. But without autonomy, resources are trapped in bureaucracy while communities remain underdeveloped,” he said.
Kawu, a former presidential aide, declared that autonomy for LGAs was “long overdue” and urged urgent reforms to guarantee financial and administrative independence.
“Without it, our Local Governments will remain crippled, no matter how much money flows from the Federation Account. The people deserve accountability, transparency, and results at the grassroots,” he added.