A member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Tertsea Gbiseh, has attributed the rising wave of insecurity across Nigeria to the absence of true autonomy for local government councils. He made this assertion during a media briefing in Makurdi on Thursday while addressing concerns over the deteriorating security situation in rural communities.
According to Gbiseh, the inability of local governments to operate independently and manage their own resources has severely weakened their capacity to tackle grassroots security challenges. He explained that local councils, being closest to the people, are in the best position to detect early signs of unrest and respond swiftly. However, their dependence on state governments for funding and direction has left them powerless and ineffective.
"Insecurity at the grassroots level continues to escalate because local government authorities are handicapped," Gbiseh said. "They lack the resources and autonomy to organize security measures that could prevent or contain conflicts before they escalate."
The lawmaker called for urgent constitutional reforms that would guarantee full autonomy for local governments, allowing them to control their allocations and design policies tailored to the unique needs of their communities. He argued that without strengthening local governance, the federal and state governments will continue to struggle with widespread insecurity.
Gbiseh also criticized the trend where elected council officials are either suspended or replaced with caretaker committees, describing it as a major setback to democratic governance at the local level. He stressed that such practices not only undermine accountability but also prevent the implementation of long term development and security strategies.
"An empowered local government system would ensure that traditional rulers, community leaders, and local vigilantes are properly mobilized and funded to maintain peace in their areas," he added.
The lawmaker urged both federal and state authorities to show political will in addressing the issue, noting that true federalism cannot be achieved without strong and independent local government structures.
Many observers have echoed Gbiseh’s sentiments, noting that genuine LG autonomy could be a major step toward reducing rural banditry, communal clashes, and other forms of insecurity plaguing the country.
As debates over constitutional amendments continue, the call for strengthening local governments is gaining more support among stakeholders who see grassroots empowerment as a key to national stability.
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