LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY AND GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA;CASE STUDY OF EDE NORTH AND SOUTH

to4 state-local government joint account system. It also provides them with greater decision-making powers regarding the allocation of resources and the implementation of development projects (Oladipo, 2024). This new legislative framework is a response to the persistent calls for true decentralization, aimed at empowering local governments to address the developmental needs of their localities without undue interference from state governments. The practical implications of this autonomy reform are already visible in states like Oyo and Lagos,where local governments have begun to take independent action in implementing community-driven projects. In Oyo State, the Ibadan North-East Local Government Area, for example, has launched its own rural electrification projects and community health initiatives, which had previously been stalled due to delays in state government approvals (Adebayo, 2024). This shift towards greater independence allows local governments to address the specific needs of their communities more directly and responsively. In Ede North-South Local Government Area, the new autonomy could be pivotal in addressing chronic infrastructure deficits, particularly in areas like rural roads and agricultural support, which are critical to the local economy. Local governments now have the legal backing to design and implement development plans tailored to the socio-economic realities of their constituencies(Adelakun, 2024). Additionally, with direct access to federal allocations, Ede North-South can now prioritize the maintenance of primary schools and health centers, sectors that have suffered from neglect due to over-reliance on state-driven budgets (Adewale, 2024).