Oyedele Charges Local Government Chairmen On Data-Driven Governance, Transparency

The Federal Government has tasked local government chairmen across Nigeria with embracing data-driven planning, transparency, accountability, and inclusive leadership as essential tools for delivering sustainable development and effective social protection at the grassroots level. The charge was given by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, during a keynote address delivered virtually at the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office stakeholder engagement conference with local government chairmen in Abuja.

The conference, themed “Strengthening Local Government Leadership for Inclusive Development and Social Protection Delivery,” brought together key stakeholders including the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, and the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim . Also in attendance were members of the National Assembly, representatives of development partners, the World Bank, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, the National Identity Management Commission, and local government chairmen from across the federation.

Speaking on the significance of the conference, Oyedele described local governments as the frontline institutions of governance where the realities of poverty, vulnerability, and public trust are most directly experienced by citizens. He stressed that national policies can only achieve meaningful impact when translated into tangible outcomes at the community level. The Minister explained that while government reforms are designed to reposition the economy, their success ultimately depends on inclusiveness and the ability of government institutions to protect vulnerable citizens during periods of transition.

“Economic stability without social protection creates exclusion, while growth without local participation deepens inequality. This is why social protection and effective local governance must remain central to our national reform agenda,” the Minister stated. He noted that social protection must not be viewed as charity but as a strategic economic policy instrument capable of reducing poverty, improving resilience, and expanding opportunities for citizens.

Highlighting the importance of credible data in governance and social intervention programmes, Oyedele underscored the ongoing integration of the National Social Register with the National Identification Number framework as a necessary step towards improving transparency, targeting efficiency, and accountability in government interventions. According to the National Coordinator of NASSCO, Funmi Olotu, the National Social Register currently covers over 20 million households and more than 77 million individuals across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Olotu further disclosed that significant progress has been recorded nationwide, with over 9.7 million household records updated, 12.3 million NINs captured, and 11.5 million successfully validated across 774 local government areas, 8,756 wards, and over 217,000 communities.

Addressing the local government chairmen directly, the Minister called for a new era of responsive and accountable leadership capable of meeting the growing expectations of citizens. He urged the chairmen to prioritise medium-term development planning anchored on credible data, maintain transparency through accessible public financial records, and ensure that development initiatives are inclusive of women, youths, persons with disabilities, minority groups, and vulnerable communities.

The Minister further stressed that Nigeria’s future would largely be determined by the quality of leadership and governance at the grassroots level rather than only at federal and state capitals. He therefore called for stronger collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, development partners, and communities in order to build a more inclusive and resilient economy.

In her remarks, Olotu emphasised that local government authorities remain critical to the success of the NIN integration exercise because of their proximity to grassroots communities and direct engagement with vulnerable populations. “Local government chairmen are not just stakeholders in this process. You are the drivers of execution. You are closest to the communities, you understand the realities on the ground, and you are uniquely positioned to ensure effective implementation of the NIN integration process,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Olubunmi Olusanya, described the National Social Register as a critical pillar in Nigeria’s social protection system. He warned that millions of vulnerable citizens still risk exclusion from government interventions without full NIN integration. “Without full NIN integration, many of them risk being excluded or unable to benefit from government interventions,” he cautioned.

Also speaking at the event, the National President of ALGON, Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal, described the engagement as timely, saying local governments must no longer be treated merely as beneficiaries of social protection policies but as active partners in planning, implementation, monitoring, and accountability. He stated, “Existing local government structures are well-positioned to support the coordination and implementation of national social protection operations across communities and wards nationwide”.

Concluding his address, Oyedele reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to ensuring that ongoing reforms translate into practical opportunities and improved living conditions for Nigerians across all communities. “Let us work together to build a Nigeria where economic reform is matched with opportunities, where fiscal discipline is balanced with compassion, and where development reaches every community,” the Minister concluded.