Business and Economy
LG autonomy: Nasarawa PDP hails Tinubu for Councils autonomy restoration in Nigeria, advises Governors to stay clear.
By David Odama
The Nasarawa State chapter of the people’s Democratic Party has applauded president Bola Tinubu for standing by the local government councils and ensuring the the restoration of autonomy of Local Government in Nigeria.
The party has also advised state governors to stay clear of the councils allocation in order to restore fully independence to local government financial administration as the tier of government closest to the people in Nigeria.
The opposition PDP in a statement signed and made available to Journalists on Wednesday in Lafia, Nasarawa state by the party Chairman Hon.
According to Hon. Orogu, “we are aware that some state governors over the years formed the unusual habit of using local government funds to prosecute election and rig themselves to power and in several other cases, slush funds to prosecute their cases in court, paying unimaginable legal fees and other underhand, immoral and corrupt practices”.
The statement which accused the governors of compromising the values of Democratic choices and desire of the people for progress and transformation claimed the actions of some of the governor’s were in aberration with the democratic norms even when such governors became unpopular through non-performance and several obvious failures.
“It is no longer news that local government councils have become pay centres, as governors in some cases give the chairmen part salaries and paltry pocket monies then fret away with the rest on frivolities, rendering the third tier of government incapacitated to the detriment of projects execution such as feeder roads, culverts, markets, schools and equiping local dispensary with highly sort after medicaments”, the statement declared.
The statement which further alleged that
the attitude of the governors has killed democracy and governance at the grassroot, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the bold steps taken to restore the autonomy of Local Government in Nigeria.
“We in Nasarawa state are grateful to president Tinubu because if this bold steps were not taking, the activities of the governor’s will continue to plunder the people’s resources, they handpick favour seekers and collaborators in most cases with leaders of the councils, an act which keeps very credible persons away from aspiring to lead the third tier of government.”
“As it is, most LGs are run by less qualified political jobbers as compensation while cronies and stooges are selected and crowned LG chairmen even when their tenure expires, they are re- appointed into caretaker committees or others with similar backgrounds”.
Hon. Orogu who called for the enforcement of section 162, etc, of the Nigerian constitution, said if enforced, many of the past governor’s past and present would be jailed, because of the volume of theft and misappropriation of local government funds, which has completely broken the chain of development at the LG level.
“We therefore call on critical stakeholders, the media, State Assembly and other parties to beam their search light on on the Local councils to avert moves that could jeopardise the use of finances of local government by any of the governors.
“We are not unaware of actions to truncate the law, we urge all our PDP lawmakers and other well meaning members in the Assembly not to hesitate to raise the alarm should they notice any breach and conduct of the governor in the management of local government resources.”
“We urge you to encourage local government chairmen to begin to do the needful by ensuring that the much needed development is brought to the communities by involving locals in the development process to ease hunger and create access to opportunities and enhance security of life and property”
“The development of the local communities will stem the tide of rural- urban migration, poverty, hunger , insecurity and crime that has become a norm in the communities under the watch of our leaders.”
The statement also urged the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency repeal the state electoral commission law with the speed with which the old National anthem was replaced.
“This will compliment the efforts of the judiciary towards enforcing the financial autonomy which will in turn encourage well meaning mature minded Nigerians to participate in local government politics and decongest the volume of contestants into state and national offices