Tinubu’s reforms put LGs at heart of economic growth – Edun

Barbara Bako, Abuja.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering local government institutions as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s inclusive economic growth agenda.…

Speaking at a high-level policy dialogue convened by AGORA Policy with support from the MacArthur Foundation, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said the Tinubu administration is prioritising grassroots development as part of its broader poverty reduction strategy.

“Grassroots empowerment is not just a governance issue, it’s an economic imperative,” Edun said, adding that inclusive development cannot be achieved without strengthening local governance.

Read also:SEC breaks silence on N323bn first HoldCo deal, reaffirms due process

He pointed to the government’s recent implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy, under which only democratically elected councils are now eligible to receive direct allocations from the Federation Account.

Edun described this move as a constitutional obligation, not merely a policy shift.

To consolidate this reform, he announced the rollout of targeted programmes such as the Nutrition 774 Initiative, Project 774 Digital Connectivity, and the HOPE Programme supported by the World Bank.

The initiatives, he explained, are focused on enhancing human capital, expanding digital infrastructure, and improving service delivery across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

“These are not symbolic gestures. They are structured investments in governance that catalyse private sector confidence, reduce economic exclusion, and foster scalable development,” Edun stated.

He further stressed the need for alignment among all tiers of government, warning that without coordinated efforts and policy discipline, the full economic benefits of local government reform may not be realised.

The event brought together policymakers, development experts, and civil society stakeholders to discuss practical strategies for deepening decentralised governance and boosting local development outcomes.