Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has declared support for a new bill seeking to grant full autonomy to all 44 local government councils in the state.
The governor’s position was contained in a statement on Friday by his spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa, following the 31st Executive Council meeting held at the Government House Annex, Kwankwasiyya City.
According to the statement, the council approved the transmission of the bill to the Kano State House of Assembly for legislative consideration.
Governor Yusuf explained that the proposed law would grant local councils both financial and administrative independence, enabling them to directly manage resources, execute projects without delays, and make decisions tailored to the needs of their communities.
“Local government autonomy is essential for good governance, accountability, and the acceleration of development at the grassroots,” Yusuf said, describing the reform as a crucial step toward deepening democracy in the state.
He also expressed confidence that lawmakers would back the bill, which he noted reflects the aspirations of Kano residents.
Local government autonomy has long been a contentious issue in Nigeria’s federal structure. While the Constitution recognises the federal, state, and local governments as three tiers, most councils remain under the firm control of state governments, limiting their independence in finance and administration.
Analysts argue that this has contributed to slow grassroots development, weak accountability, and inefficiencies in service delivery.
If passed, the Kano bill could make the state one of the first in Nigeria to formally guarantee full autonomy for its local councils.
