Restructuring Local Government Administration, The Pathway to Returning Power to the People.
In our open letter as distinguished members of Omoluabi Team Alliance Socio- cultural and Political Group to the new President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the person of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu(GCFR), we deemed it fit as concerned Nigerians to mention in our open letter core action points that bothers on economy, security, education, agriculture, power,youths and unemployment which must be given unadulterated attention by Mr.President if a new Nigeria of our dream we yearn for is anything to achieve so soon. Paramount to mention of all these action points outlined for PBAT is the need to immediately think of how to return power back to the Local Government traditionally known as local council areas. Where is the place of sense of belonging reserved exclusively for the masses when the local government administration have been eroded completely with only carcasses or a shadow of itself being paraded across the 774 local government areas.
One ned to say that the Nigerian Governors Forum has done more damage to this third tier of government that we all grew up to know as the closest level of governance to the average man on the street of Imbise in the present day Imo State who has never been to Abuja or Lagos since his or her birth to old age. Government as an agent and organ that provides leadership to the people gave birth to democracy as a system of government defined as government of the people, by the people and for the people. It technically implied that government belongs to the people while the people should also participate in governance at all levels. Then why deny the people access to the closest level of government to them? Why kill this tier of government that is expected to be the channel through which all the dividends of democracy are brought to the doorsteps of the people? There a whole lot of programmes and benefits the local government areas can be empowered to deliver at the doorstep of our people among which include, employment and thorough engagement of youths, giving social services benefits to the aged ones in the community, neighborhood security, building and maintenance of schools, implementation of community and neighborhood projects, management and maintenance of all government properties available within their domains, provide and maintain transportation systems within their domains, care for traditional rulers and chiefs on their domains,provide and maintain all water facilities in their domain, provide bursaries and scholarships to students and pupils in theje domain, organise sports and other field events within their domain to arrest youth unrest and idleness, empowerment for women of all ages and categories, youths empowerment, tutorial and coaching classes for school children and students alike, recruitment of teachers, provision of neighborhood clinics and basic health centers, environmental vanguards and many more that will benefit the people in all circumspects.
Th Governors in all the 36 states have left the local governments in their various states to become full shadow of themselves, dormant, docile,moribond and absolutely dead in most cases but merely exist on papers. Councilors who represents their wards and units from where senators, rep members, governors and presidents garner their votes and mandates have been rendered worthless and lost political recognitions at the grassroot. Local Government Chairmen and Chairpersons have become houseboys to governors in their various states which contradicts the constitutional power that we grew up to know these LGA bosses had even during the military era.
The questions are,
why was the constitution subverted and not allowed to exercise its' full powers in the case of LGAs' having its full recognition as a third tier of government?
Is there any suspicion of rivalry between LGA bosses and their States Executive Governors? I thought the constitution is clear about this separation of powers and constitutional duties?
Do we continue to erode the powers of the LGAs' at the expense of delivering to its' fullest the dividends of democracy to the people?
The time is now to reposition, restructure, restore and reinstate the powers of our local government areas back to this third and very important tier of government. Even in the western world, districts, counties are well structured to carry out the functions of government or serve as the channel through which the dividends of democracy are delivered to the grassroot. What is then the case with our own country where we resolved to have adopted a democratic system of government that is all inclusive.
The clarion call and advise to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to yield to the voices of the people and grant local government autonomy at all cost. It can be signed as an executive order to further remove all possible blockages and hinderances to this seeing light of the day. As a pure democrat and a man who believes in a functional local government areas which was the case of your unforgettable achievement in Lagos State where you governed between 1999 to 2007. You resisted stiff oppositions from the Federal Government under Olusegun Obasanjo by creating LCDAs' so as to further bring government closest to the people. Today we talk about this and a significant plus to you as a pure democrat.
Mr. President should please break boundaries and make what seems impossible to your predecessors possible. Help us restructure, reposition and reinstate the powers and constitutional rights, responsibilities and duties of the local government areas and even create more across the six geopolitical zones. Restructuring is key and absolutely achievable.
To achieve this feat:
1.Hold meetings with the various state governors' with the mandate to revisit local government administration through the various States Houses of Assemblies within the next six months.
2.Terms of References be given through your office, the Presidency to the various State Governments to implement through their various Houses of Assemblies.
3. Their must be conditions, qualifications and qualities that must be clearly stated out to further raise the standards and bar for aspiring Executive Local Government Chairmen and Councilors.
4. Reports be submitted across the various states Houses of Assemblies and submitted for deliberation by the bench of House of Assembly Speaker forum which should be endorsed by a 2/3 of members of the speakers forum.
5. A unanimous single report be transmitted to the Senate for deliberation but must get 2/3 approval of members of Senate.
6. This should finally be prepared as a document endorsed and transmitted to the president for approvals.
7. It becomes a law. Local Government Areas then get full constitutional backing while INEC be allowed to conduct elections for Local Government Chairmanship positions directly without any interference from State Governors.
8. If rejected or delayed through a strict follow up of these procedures by Houses of Assemblies, State Governors and Senate, then set up a special committee with representatives from each states, traditional rulers inclusive as they should be carried along being stakeholders in their various domains. It is my candid opinion that you give the reports of the special committee set up an executive order
Power to the people should be a priority.
E- signed:
National Convener Omoluabi Team Alliance Socio-cultural and Political Group.
Sunday 11th June 2023
08063563668
Earlier on Monday, Hon. Comrade Idowu Odebunmi, representing Oye Constituency II at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, has made a courtesy visits to Chef Dammy’s a young talented determined Ekiti undergraduate in the State.
