Local Government and the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, 2030) in Nigeria: Challenges, Prospects, and Policy Pathways

David A. Titus

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Abstract

This study investigated the role of local government in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria, focusing on the challenges, prospects, and policy reforms needed for effective grassroots development. Anchored in a qualitative-descriptive research design, the study relied on secondary data from government reports, journal articles, and development agency publications to examine how local governments contribute to selected SDGs, particularly poverty reduction, quality education, healthcare, clean water, and strong institutions. For in-depth explanations, it adopted decentralisation and participatory development theories. The findings indicated that while local governments are strategically positioned as the closest tier of governance to the people, their performance has been significantly constrained by inadequate funding, weak institutional capacity, corruption, political interference, and poor citizen participation. Nonetheless, the study highlighted important opportunities for reform, including fiscal decentralisation, improved accountability mechanisms, capacity building, and enhanced participatory governance at the grassroots level. It concluded that strengthening local governance is crucial to accelerating Nigeria’s progress toward the 2030 Agenda and recommended a multi stakeholder approach involving federal, state, and local governments, civil society, and international partners to address systemic constraints.

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