LG autonomy and primary education

The debate over granting financial and administrative autonomy to local governments in Nigeria has long been contentious. While proponents argue that independence would enhance grassroots governance, concerns have surfaced regarding the viability of LGs, particularly their ability to meet critical obligations such as paying primary school teachers. This issue has sparked anxiety among stakeholders, including educators, parents, and policymakers.

The Supreme Court’s July 11, 2024, judgement affirming financial autonomy for the 774 LGs means that governors could no longer control funds meant for the councils. By extension, the councils must now shoulder the accompanying responsibility of grassroots development and other financial obligations such as payment of primary school teachers’ salaries.

Unlike other federal states where LGs are under states, provinces or cantons, the Supreme Court judgement turned this upside down. Nigeria must live with the autonomy of the LGs, warts, and all.

A report by The PUNCH from the National Union of Teachers data revealed that teachers in the LGA primary schools were not paid the former N18,000 minimum wage. Some states did not implement the old minimum salary for teachers at both state and local levels.

“I can tell you that some states didn’t even implement the N18,000 minimum wage for teachers at the local level. Some governors refused to pay stating that the teachers are under the employment of the local governments,” said the NUT General Secretary, Mike Ene.

LGs, the third tier of government, are mandated to address grassroots development needs, including primary education. However, their autonomy has been a subject of political controversy. They are specifically tasked with funding and managing primary schools, including the payment of teachers’ salaries.

Despite this, the Universal Basic Education Commission and state governments have historically intervened to cover gaps in funding. This co-dependence has raised concerns about whether LGs can shoulder the full financial responsibility which autonomy necessitates.

One of the most pressing concerns is funding. Most LGs depend entirely on monthly allocations, which might be insufficient to cover basic expenses. Internal revenue generation remains weak due to poorly developed economic bases, lack of innovation in tax collection, and rampant corruption.

In several LGs, IGR is negligible compared to their monthly expenditure. This disparity raises questions about their ability to independently fund primary education. With teacher salaries comprising a significant portion of LG budgets, the risk of salary arrears or outright non-payment looms large.

The anxiety among stakeholders is not unwarranted. Between 1999 and 2003, most LGs failed in the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries. A solution was found in the States/LG Joint Account System. This reflects the genuine apprehensions about the readiness of LGs to assume full responsibility for primary school teachers’ salaries after the Supreme Court ruling.

Failure to pay primary school teachers could have dire consequences for the educational sector. Already burdened by overcrowded classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, and poor learning outcomes, the public primary education system risks further deterioration. If teachers are not paid promptly, morale and productivity will plummet, leading to strikes and disruptions in academic calendars.

Nigeria’s 20.1 million out-of-school children is the second highest in the world behind India’s.

While LG autonomy has the potential to unlock Nigeria’s developmental potential, it is imperative to address the legitimate concerns surrounding the financial viability of councils, particularly in funding primary education. Without adequate safeguards, autonomy could lead to a deeper crisis in the education sector, undermining national growth and social stability.

Meeting financial obligations under autonomy will require a deliberate, strategic approach that addresses the systemic weaknesses in local governance.

Autonomy is not a panacea; it is a tool. With true federalism, adequate preparation, financial reforms, and strong oversight mechanisms, LGs can become more self-reliant and better positioned to fulfil their mandates.