What was the significance of the 1976 Local Government Reform in Nigeria and who continued its implementation?

The 1976 Local Government Reform in Nigeria marked a significant turning point in the country's local government administration. Initiated during the General Mohammed / Obasanjo military regime (1975-1979), this reform is considered the most fundamental in the history of local government in Nigeria and serves as a crucial reference point for subsequent local government administration. The reform clearly established local government as a third tier of government within Nigeria's administrative structure. The primary intention of the regime was to stabilize and rationalize local government at the local level, aiming to make the system more effective and efficient at the grassroots. This initiative represented the most radical transformation of the local government system Nigeria had ever seen. Notably, the assassination of General Mohammed did not negatively impact the reforms; rather, General Obasanjo judiciously continued the administration's programs for local government reforms. Consequently, the 1976 local government reform is widely perceived as a "government of the people," emphasizing its focus on bringing governance closer to the populace.