By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Former lawmaker that represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani, has bemoaned what he described as widespread public ignorance of the activities of state Houses of Assembly and legislative councils at the local government level in Nigeria.
Sani said most Nigerians were largely unaware of the workings of these legislative institutions, with many citizens unable to identify their elected representatives or explain the roles they play in governance.
The former lawmaker stated this in a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, where he lamented the limited public attention given to legislative activities beyond the federal level.
According to him, many Nigerians have never visited their state Houses of Assembly and are equally unaware that local governments have legislative arms responsible for performing oversight and lawmaking functions within their jurisdictions.
He noted that discussions about the activities of state legislatures and local government legislative councils were largely absent on social media, further reflecting the limited public engagement with governance at these levels.
Sani attributed the situation to factors including ignorance, lack of interest and fear of local political figures, whom he said might not take criticism of their activities kindly.
He observed that the Federal Government remained the most familiar tier of government to many citizens, despite the significant impact that decisions made at the state and local government levels have on their daily lives.
“The only tier of Government most people know is the FG,” he stated.
The former senator warned that governance at the grassroots level appeared to operate with relatively little public scrutiny, creating a gap in citizens’ awareness of the activities and responsibilities of elected officials.
He stressed the need for greater public interest in the affairs of state and local legislative institutions, where closer citizen engagement could help strengthen accountability and democratic participation.
Sani’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the importance of public awareness of legislative activities beyond the National Assembly, particularly at the state and local government levels, where elected representatives are expected to remain accountable to the people they serve.
