The Leadership and Accountability Initiative, in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), has inaugurated the Local Government Accountability Project (Local-GAP) aimed at promoting transparent governance.
The group said it is embarking on a nationwide campaign tagged the Local Government Accountability Project (Local-GAP), an initiative designed to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in all the 774 local government areas of Nigeria.
The group disclosed this during a Courtesy Visit to the NUJ on Local-GAP at the NUJ National Secretariat in Abuja, on Thursday.
In a statement by the group’s Project Lead, Elder John Shuiabu, and Head of Mission, Hon. Nwazuluahu Shield, the group highlighted that its mission is rooted in the belief that governance must work for the people at the grassroots.
It further stated that leadership must be transparent, responsible, and accountable, adding that local governments, as the closest tier of government to the people, must not only function effectively but also deliver on their constitutional mandate.
According the group, Nigeria’s democratic journey cannot be complete unless governance at the grassroots reflects the true yearnings and aspirations of the people.
It also lamented that for too long, the local government system that should be the engine room of development has suffered neglect, opacity, and inefficiency, stressing that basic services such as primary healthcare, rural roads, sanitation, and primary education are often either absent or poorly delivered.
The group however argued that the poor state of the local government system is not a lack of resources, but largely because accountability has been weak and citizens’ voices have been muted.
It further noted that the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that granted financial autonomy to local governments has provided it with a golden opportunity to reset the system, emphasising that Nigerians would now see how their resources are being used, how decisions are made, and how leaders at the grassroots can be held accountable.
The group, however, commended the media houses and the NUJ for always being the conscience of society, the watchdog of democracy, and the mirror through which government sees itself and the governed measure leadership.
It further urged the NUJ and the media communities to tighten their partnership so as to achieve the goal of Local-GAP
“For the Local-GAP to succeed, we need your partnership, your courage, and your voice. We need the Nigerian press to shine its light into the dark corners of local governance, to amplify citizens’ concerns, to highlight best practices, and to hold leaders accountable to their promises and responsibilities,” the group said.
It added that it is committed to providing the platforms, data, and tools that will make this partnership impactful, adding that it will support capacity-building for journalists in investigative reporting at the local government level, facilitate town hall engagements across states, and create open channels for citizens to monitor projects and expenditures.
