Senator insists on direct allocation of funds to LGs

Abba Moro, the minority leader of the Senate has said that reverting to direct statutory allocations to local governments will stop unnecessary interference by state governors in the affairs of local councils in Nigeria.

Moro, who reacted to the recent dissolution of 23 local government councils in Benue by the state government, said in Abuja on Thursday, called for further amendment of the 1999 Constitution and relevant laws guiding operations of the local government system.

He said this would help to avoid further emasculation and illegal setting up of caretaker committee members at local government councils by state governments.

According to the senator, the government of Benue had recently sacked the 23 elected council chairmen and their vice, 276 councillors and supervisory councillors and secretaries, saying that the act was unconstitutional.

“From all standards by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this is alien and illegal and by all standards, is an aberration.

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“The constitution does not provide for the dissolution of the elected councils in Benue State or any part of Nigeria. There is no power in the constitution that arrogates to state houses of assembly to recommend the dissolution or suspension of local governments.

“And so, I felt that I should bring it to the attention of the National Assembly, especially the Senate because all my efforts to persuade the governor, government, and Benue House of Assembly to rescind the decision fell on deaf ears.

“And I believe that as a senator representing the very good people of Benue South which has nine local governments, 102 council wards, I have a responsibility of letting the world know that this is what has happened in my state.”

He said the government’s decision was wrong, adding he was an advocate for the financial and administrative autonomy of local governments.

“As a one-time chairman of a local government, I feel a comparing need to make the Senate know and intervene in this matter because it is unconstitutional,” said Moro.