{"id":2623,"date":"2025-07-28T11:57:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T11:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/?p=2623"},"modified":"2025-07-28T11:57:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T11:57:09","slug":"fg-reaffirms-commitment-to-empowering-local-government-institutions-as-cornerstone-of-inclusive-economic-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finance.gov.ng\/ministry\/fg-reaffirms-commitment-to-empowering-local-government-institutions-as-cornerstone-of-inclusive-economic-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"FG Reaffirms Commitment to Empowering Local Government Institutions as Cornerstone of Inclusive Economic Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has reaffirmed the Federal Government\u2019s commitment to empowering local government institutions as a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a high-level policy dialogue hosted by AGORA Policy with support from the MacArthur Foundation, the Minister underscored that strengthening local governance is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu\u2019s poverty reduction strategy. Grassroots empowerment is not just a governance issue, it’s an economic imperative, he said.<\/p>\n

HM Edun referenced the Federal Government\u2019s recent compliance with the Supreme Court\u2019s landmark ruling on local government autonomy, affirming that only democratically elected local councils now receive direct allocations from the Federation Account. This, he clarified, is not a policy choice but the government\u2019s constitutional obligation to uphold the judgment of the highest court of the land.<\/p>\n

To reinforce this shift, the Federal Government has launched targeted initiatives including the Nutrition 774 Programme, Project 774 Digital Connectivity, and the HOPE Programme supported by the World Bank. Each intervention is designed to drive outcomes in human capital development, digital access, and local-level service efficiency \u2014 all critical to unlocking Nigeria\u2019s long-term productivity.<\/p>\n

These are not symbolic gestures, Edun stated. They are structured investments in governance that catalyse private sector confidence, reduce economic exclusion, and foster scalable development.<\/p>\n

He concluded by calling for deeper coordination between all tiers of government, emphasising that the full economic benefit of local government reform can only be realised through strategic collaboration and policy discipline.<\/p>\n

Signed
\nMohammed Manga FCAI
\nDirector, Information and Public Relations
\nJuly 23, 2025<\/p>\n

www.finance.gov.ng<\/p>\n