From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Dr Alabi
A management consultant and Institutional Reform Strategist, Dr. John Alabi has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to review what he called the unconstitutional appendage of the local governments to the state governments if the effect of the promised “next level” is to be felt.
Dr John Alabi made the call when he presented a paper titled, “achieving development at the local government areas in Nigeria held at the NUJ Press Center in Lokoja on Tuesday
He said with the local governments and states Joint Accounts Committees, (JAC], developments at the grassroots has been stalled as the local government councils could not plan or implement projects on their own.
” The JAC is an aberration and satanic, while the state Assemblies are mere lame ducks that have been pocketed by the executives. What goes on at the legislatures are dramatization of sycophancy, as they collaborated with the executives to ensure the looting of the local government councils.”
Dr Alabi who is the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Confluence Business School Lokoja, stated that ” the effect of the next level agenda can only be felt if the local governments are independent and democratized”.
Dr Alabi who alleged that state governments hide under the JAC to perpetuate corruption , explained that local governments could not plan or execute projects in their localities without involvement of the state governments who later claim credit for the achievements.
The LGs that have the constitutional responsibilities to construct rural roads, collect revenues, street lights, organize markets and other socio — economic activities for the basic development have been denied, the consultant said.
“The Nigerian state must work, change has come and sustainable development must be the next level in our country” Dr Alabi urged the new government.
Chairman of the ocassion, Alhaji Aliyu Lawal Jiya the Maiyaki of Lokoja, commended the organizers of the public lecture over the frequent enlightenment and intellectual discourse in the state for many years.
He urged other intellectuals and civil society organizations in the country to also embark on the sensitization of the leaders and the led.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Executive Director Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, Comrade Idris Miliki, who condemns the JAC policy added that some state governments have already turned state assemblies and local government councils to annex houses and treasury.
