This brief addresses the history, present and future direction of local government administration in Nigeria, with a view to appraising its foundations and reasons for the contentious nature of its autonomy. Attention is paid to the structure, management and administration of the education sector, as well as the primary healthcare management by local governments and the dynamic between them and the states. For education and health care, the brief considers challenges posed by capacity and funding constraints, as well as prospects for local and state intergovernmental relations.

The brief notes the constitutionality of local government as a distinct tier of government, the odds of an emergent ‘good governance’ and development paradigm (if gubernatorial political dominance will remain significant) and whether local government can escape its chequered past. This brief focuses on explaining how the federal government, via a quasi-oversight function, can ensure that local government is enabled to spur development and growth.

The brief ends by appraising the possible near-term future orientation of local government (noting the risk profiles of key stakeholders, power dynamics, weak governance capacity and status quo bias, among other things) and provides recommendations on how the federal government can engage with local government going forward.