LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY: A PATHWAY TO YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
By Elizabeth Oyeniwa
The Special Adviser on Youth Affairs and Engagement to the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rotn. Akintayo Akinjolie, has reiterated the need to strengthen local government administration in Nigeria to deepen democracy, empower young people, and enhance community development.
Speaking on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Chief) Oladiji Olamide Landmark, at a Youth Retreat themed “Local Government Full Autonomy: A Catalyst to Youth Engagement and Community Development,” Rotn. Akinjolie commended the ongoing discussions aimed at improving the effectiveness and independence of local government institutions.
He described such efforts as “a progressive step toward ensuring that governance becomes more responsive and inclusive at the grassroots.”
He noted that autonomy for local governments would encourage faster decision-making, transparency, and accountability in governance, and would also create new opportunities for youth participation and innovation.
This would empower councils to design and implement local programs in entrepreneurship, agriculture, skills development, and digital innovation, which would help unlock the creativity and productivity of young Nigerians.
Rotn. Akinjolie reaffirmed the commitment of the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Ondo State House of Assembly to supporting every initiative that promotes good governance, youth inclusion, and community advancement.
He stressed that the call for local government strengthening should not be seen as a criticism but as a collaborative step toward a more effective and people-driven system.
“We must all work together—government at all levels, traditional institutions, civil society, and the youth—to build stronger communities where governance truly works for the people,” he concluded.
During the event, he presented the Chronicle Magazine, Special Edition—a publication showcasing Rt. Hon. Speaker Oladiji Olamide Landmark’s two years of legislative leadership and achievements as Speaker of the 10th Assembly, ODHA—to the President of the Ondo State Progressive Activators (OSPA), in recognition of the Speaker’s commitment to youth inclusiveness, community development, and supporting progressive bodies across the state.
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