Autonomy: LG officials in Oyo get training on transparency, citizen engagement

The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), with support from the Nigerian Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), has trained local government officials in Oyo State on the concepts of transparency, citizen participation, civic technology, and local policy alignment.

The capacity development workshop, held at the Local Government Staff Training School in Agodi, Ibadan, on Monday, is part of BBYDI’s LocalGov2.0 initiative, which aims to promote transparent, inclusive, and digitally-driven local governance across Nigeria’s South-West region.

The workshop follows the recent ruling by the Supreme Court on financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils. BBYDI states that its goal is to ensure that councils have the capacity to manage autonomy effectively and accountably.

“Autonomy without capacity only produces chaos,” said BBYDI’s Executive Director, Nurah Jimoh-Sanni. “We are here to build that capacity, grounded in transparency, civic inclusion, and results.”

The day-long event featured technical sessions on governance mandates, citizen participation, civic technology, and local policy alignment.

During the event, Idowu Johnson, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Ibadan, who led a session on the constitutional responsibilities of local governments, urged officials to shift from routine administration to community-focused development.

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Kolawole Oyerinde, a retired director with the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, addressed the need for inclusive planning and structured citizen feedback.

Also, Risikat Ayodele Busari, Head of Local Government Administration in Akinyele LGA, facilitated a session on aligning mandates with measurable community outcomes.

In another session, Ademuyiwa Adeyemi David, South-West Regional Coordinator at Tracka, introduced participants to civic tech platforms like Budeshi and Tracka.ng, which allow communities to monitor public spending and report uncompleted projects.

“The data exists. The problem is access,” Mr. David said. “These tools help citizens follow the money and demand results.”

The event also marked the unveiling of two major governance publications: a factsheet and issue brief titled “Strengthening Local Governance in South-Western Nigeria,” which examines challenges and proposes policy recommendations, and a needs assessment report based on research conducted across 49 LGAs in Oyo and Ekiti States. The report identifies systemic gaps in transparency, planning, and citizen engagement and includes a foreword by Prof. Olajide Akanji of the University of Ibadan.

BBYDI also introduced civic infographics and an in-progress civic technology platform that will allow residents to track local projects, follow campaign promises, and submit real-time feedback.

The LocalGov2.0 initiative is currently being piloted in six LGAs in Oyo State, with plans to expand to other parts of the region. In addition to training, the program includes townhall meetings, civic education forums, and live radio programs to promote community dialogue on governance.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE