From Yakubu Busari, Jos
Comrade Steve Alukodaniel
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, CSOs, have called on presidential candidates in the upcoming general election on February 25, 2023, to take their stand on the crucial issue of local government autonomy, arguing that it is one of the strong factors militating against grassroots development in the country and general well-being of Nigerians.
Stating that local government is the closest and most accessible government to the rural populace but has unfortunately remained in a mess as it has been reduced to the level of subservience by other levels of governance at the federal and state levels, the group called for the removal of constitutional bottle necks impeding the autonomy of LGAs .
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Coordinator of Plateau state civil society CSO’s, Comrade Steve Alukodaniel stressed that the major threat to financial autonomy of local governments in Nigeria can be found in the sub-sections of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended). He identified subsections 5, 6, 7 and 8 as containing the major threat.
Sub-section (5) says, “The amount standing to the credit of Local Government Councils in the Federation Account shall also be allocated to the State for the benefit of their Local Government Councils on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.”
He pointed out that, according to sub-section (6), “Each State shall maintain a special account to be called “State Joint Local Government Account” into which shall be paid all allocations to the Local Government Councils of the State from the Federation Account and from the Government of the State.”
Sub-section (7) states, “Each State shall pay to Local Government Councils in its area of jurisdiction such proportion of its total revenue on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.” While sub-section (8) says, “The amount standing to the credit of the Local Government Councils of a state shall be distributed among the Local Government Councils of that state on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of the state.”
Comrade Steve stated that the only solution out of this challenge rests in a comprehensive amendment of the Constitution regarding local governments. “The amendment, if approved, will go a long way to strengthen governance, accountability and service delivery across the local government system, ” he said.
Alukodaniel disclosed that the Local government autonomy will definitely open a new phase in building capacity and competence to act positive as the best way to develop in this country through a bottom-top approach to governance. “Any other way will be counterproductive. If we all want prosperous Nigeria, we need local intent and content like.
“It will also give majority of our rural populist a fair sense of ownership and responsibility.
“It will promote healthy competitive development among the 774LGAs in Nigeria. and provide for basic needs for healthy living, arrest unguided urban drift and increasing urban slums.
“It guarantees veritable platforms for security of life and property of all including top politicians and civil servants that will eventually retire to a local government after their services to the nation.
Given all these advantages, this call is made under a renewed vigour of a collective aspirations to give better live to the third tiers of governance.
“The fact remains that attaining local government autonomy is key to sustainable grassroots development. This why we consider it disheartening that almost all the candidates running for elections in 2023 are avoiding the issue of LG autonomy like leprosy or any other plague for that matter. Of all the 18 political parties, only one has passively mentioned the issue in its economic development action for the country,” said Alukodaniel.
“In our view, the electorate should only vote for candidates that will ensure local government autonomy. As the general election draws closer, Nigerians should vote only politicians that have a clear agenda to liberate the local government system by granting them the full administrative and financial autonomy.
“It is imperative to state, in our opinion, that this is not a favour but a duty if the rural population is to have an opportunity to experience development in the real sense of the term. What is going on now at that level of development structure is tokenism that is unacceptable.
Recall that the enacted LG autonomy bill containing 44 alterations has since been transmitted by the National Assembly to the 36 State Houses of Assembly in March 2022 for concurrence.
The bills deal with major issues on development, governance, politics and the economy. It touches on issues which include the abrogation of the state and local government joint account, financial independence of state legislatures and judiciary.
What is required is a simple majority in at least 24 states out of the 36 State Houses of Assembly. Unfortunately, only seven out of the 36 states have passed the local government autonomy. They are Abia, Anambra, Delta, Katsina, Kogi, Ogun and Osun.
According to report, Lagos State rejected local government autonomy. While the remaining 28 other states are yet to decide on the issue.
However, feedback from the states, shows that Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Niger and Oyo are likely to pass the LG autonomy bill. Adamawa and Nasarawa states may pass financial autonomy and reject administrative autonomy.
Back home, NULGE and the CSO’s called on the Plateau State House of Assembly to immediately consider passage of the local government autonomy bill 2022.
Alukodaniel said: “This call for the speedy passage is made against the past progressive rich history of past plateau state House Assembly from the first to the eight assembly that have not only promptly consider same but ensured its passage against all odds by some not to well-meaning anti-democratic forces either as individuals or groups with ulterior motive.
This law when passed it strengthen good governance at the local government level, promote accountability, transparency and open governance.
