The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has thrown its weight behind the newly launched Nigerian Local Government Integrity Index (NLGI), describing it as a timely tool to deepen transparency and accountability at the grassroots.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has thrown its weight behind the newly launched Nigerian Local Government Integrity Index (NLGI), describing it as a timely tool to deepen transparency and accountability at the grassroots.
The index was unveiled on Friday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI), with stakeholders from government, civil society, academia and the media in attendance.
In his opening remarks, Executive Director of CeFTPI, Dr. Umar Yakubu, explained that the NLGI is a comprehensive evidence-based framework that assesses governance and corruption risks across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
“The index is anchored on eight critical pillars, including fiscal transparency and accountability, financial capacity, anti-corruption enforcement, post-election governance and sustainability, civic oversight and media freedom, public service delivery outcomes, digital infrastructure and e-governance, and the security environment,” Yakubu said.
He stressed that the recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments must not be reduced to a mere legal pronouncement. “It magnifies the urgency of instituting effective monitoring and accountability systems to ensure that autonomy translates into real service delivery for the people,” he warned.
Speaking on behalf of the FRC Chairman, Victor Muruako, Esq., the Commission’s Special Adviser, Dr. Chris Uwadoka, commended CeFTPI for what he described as “a groundbreaking initiative.”
“This index aligns perfectly with FRC’s mandate of promoting fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability across all tiers of government. It is not just a report—it is a tool that empowers citizens, civil society and oversight bodies to hold local leaders accountable for every naira that passes through the local government system,” Uwadoka said.
The launch drew wide acknowledgment from anti-corruption agencies, oversight bodies, the media, and development partners.
Stakeholders agreed that the NLGI must not end on paper but serve as a practical instrument for reform, civic engagement and improved governance outcomes at the grassroots.
FRC Backs Nigerian Local Government Integrity Index, Calls for Stronger Accountability at Grassroots
