Going forward with LG autonomy

Without an iota of doubt, the President Ahmed Tinubu-led administration deserves commendation for mustering the political will to see through the persisting call for enthroning full autonomy of the local government councils, as the third tier of government. That it runs in sync with the recent opinion essay of yours truly, published barely a month ago, reflects the fact that the government has started giving a listening ear to the wishes of the led majority of Nigerians, who are in concerned about enthroning pro-people policies.

Commendable also is the fact that it has unfolded with the tacit support of both the Red and Green Chambers, and history will be kind to all those who made positive inputs for the landmark, political policy acceptance.

As recently harmonised through the Conference Committees of both legislative chambers, involving 23 clauses and sections, it has granted full financial and administrative autonomy to the 774 local government councils, with the amendment of Section 124 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

It is good enough that there is the approval for the establishment of the Office of the Auditor General of Local Government Councils, as well as the Local Government Service Commission. These two offices will not only strengthen the all-important issues of accountability, transparency and fiscal responsibility, that should be in tandem with the wishes of the led majority at the grassroots but articulate the administrative processes.

Another notable achievement, with regards to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections is the doing away with the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) and vesting such powers on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). That is most remarkable because it would be recalled that over the years, the conduct of elections at the local councils were at the whims and caprices of the all-powerful state governors.

Not done, is the recent approval given by both the House of Representatives and the Senate for Independent Candidacy. That was done with the amendment of Sections 65 and 106 of the 1999 constitution, as amended. In all honesty, this has been long in coming. In fact, not a few observers and analysts of the fraud- fuelling electoral process in the country have been clamouring for it. But the challenges of how such candidates would appeal to their communities devoid of financial manipulation and intimidation from the popular political parties at the councils remain with us.

On the other hand, is the controversial matter of the removal of immunity clause for the president and state governors which had the support of members of the House of Representatives but not the Senate. Should it, or should it not? That is the best million -naira question.

“To strengthen the ethos, ethics and dictates of democracy the autonomy of the local government councils should not be compromised on the altar of self-serving leadership “

-Oyoze Baje (‘The imperative of local government autonomy in Nigeria’. Article published on June 4, 2024).

As far as yours truly is concerned and has made his opinion on it known for over two decades is the increasing need to strip the president and state governors of any form of immunity. Those who oppose it with the claim that doing so will cause unnecessary distraction from their official duties are perhaps, ignorant of what Nigeria has lost with the so-called immunity clause. But why, you may ask? The answer is not far-fetched.

It is common knowledge that a good majority of the former state governors, alleged to have soiled their hands with slush funds, or pilfered their states’ treasuries dry are still walking our streets as free men. Unfortunately, the victims of their avarice, greed and gargantuan profligacy have either been sent to their early graves, or enmeshed in preventable poverty. Not only were some of them not paid their salaries as at when due, they have suffered from food insecurity, hunger, low quality delivery of education and healthcare. That is where the pain lies.

Such a sordid socio-economic situation brings to the public sphere how to ensure that the new autonomous local councils are piloted by people of credible character, who are genuinely concerned about deploying the available financial and natural resources to better the quality of life of the common man. That brings in the critical role the mass media has to play.

That includes of course, the sustained enlightenment of the populace on the statutory functions of the local government councils, and their own roles to play as the rights and responsibilities. Now is also the time for the mass media to be more investigative of how truly honest the chairmen, vice chairmen, councilors and others in their team are performing their duties to the people.

According to Section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended, for the establishment of local government councils, their duties include economic recommendations to the state, collection of taxes and fees, establishment of mortuaries, homes for destitutes and giving licenses for bicycles, trucks, wheelbarrows and related vehicles. Other duties include the construction and maintenance of roads, gardens, street lights, drainages, public highways, and parks.

Local councils are also constitutionally empowered to establish slaughter houses, markets, motor parks, the naming of streets, and the number of houses. With the knowledge of all of these, there should be an inclusive avenue for the chairman of each local government council to meet with representatives of the people, at least, on quarterly basis as a forum on accountability. The people should be duly informed about how much has come in from the Federation Account, the local revenues made and the expenditure made thereof.

Such public enlightenment would eventually let the people understand that in a democracy the leaders are there for them – to meet their needs and not to be feared or worshipped. And it is wrong on their part to go cap-in-hand begging for crumbs from the master’s table, before, during or after elections. They should go further to put on record the fanciful promises made during the electioneering campaigns and remind them to fulfill such when and if they eventually get elected.

With the hope that the members of the State Houses of Assembly will assent to the far-reaching recommendations made at the federal level doing so will go a long way towards enthroning pro-people democratic principles. The autonomy for the local government councils is therefore, a veritable platform to do away with the king -slave mentality of the people.