President Bola Tinubu, in his Democracy Day address on Friday, attributed the rampant insecurity plaguing Nigeria to the breakdown of grassroots governance structures. Speaking during a nationwide broadcast marking June 12, Tinubu emphasized that his administration is tackling the root causes of violence and instability, which he linked to ineffective local government administration.
Tinubu stated that recognizing the disconnect between citizens and democratic dividends, his government has pushed for financial autonomy for all 774 local councils across the country. He described the dysfunction at the local level as a fundamental obstacle to national progress, noting that the current insecurity is partly a consequence of the collapse of governance at the grassroots.
“A fundamental challenge to our nation’s advancement has been ineffective local government administration,” Tinubu said. “The insecurity we are addressing is partly due to the collapse of grassroots governance.” He reiterated that empowering local governments is key to restoring order and ensuring democracy delivers tangible benefits to all Nigerians.