Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila has raised alarm that poverty and youth unemployment stay widespread on the grassroot stage regardless of the large funds allotted to Native Governments throughout the nation.
Talking throughout an interview with journalists, the Kano South senator stated the 44 Native Authorities Areas in Kano State alone obtained ₦130.74 billion between January and June 2025, but communities have seen little or no enchancment of their residing situations.
He defined that Kano Central’s 15 LGAs acquired ₦49.42 billion, Kano South’s 16 LGAs obtained ₦45.46 billion, whereas Kano North’s 13 LGAs collected ₦35.87 billion in the course of the interval. Nassarawa LGA topped the chart with ₦5.12 billion, whereas Tofa obtained the least with ₦2.34 billion.
“Regardless of this monetary windfall, youth unemployment nonetheless hovers above 40 % in lots of states, healthcare is overstretched, faculties are underfunded, and poverty ranges present little or no discount,” Kawu lamented.
He stated the issue lies within the lack of autonomy for Native Governments, which leaves sources trapped in paperwork as a substitute of immediately benefiting the folks.
“Think about if our Native Governments had the autonomy to handle their allocations, internally generated income, and grants. They might make use of our youths, empower indigenous contractors, increase native markets, reply swiftly to emergencies, and improve faculties and hospitals. However with out autonomy, communities will stay underdeveloped,” he stated.
Kawu, insisted that autonomy for LGAs is “lengthy overdue” and urged pressing reforms to ensure their monetary and administrative independence.
“The folks deserve accountability, transparency, and outcomes on the grassroots. Till then, regardless of how a lot cash flows from the Federation Account, poverty and unemployment will persist,” he added.
