From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character, Abba Moro, has said the National Assembly would continue to support and push for local government autonomy.
He spoke at the national stakeholders’ conference on special duties and intergovernmental affairs organized by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, yesterday in Abuja.
The theme of the conference was ‘Harnessing Grassroots Potentials For Service Delivery and For Sustainable National Development: The Proper Place of Local Government Administration and Intergovernmental Relations.’
According to Moro, the leadership of the National Assembly has worked hard to ensure that development trickles to the grassroots, but lamented that each time the bill that will institutionalise local government autonomy is presented to the state houses of assembly, it is rejected by some lawmakers.
He said: “It is only in our country that a state assembly will reject a bill that will give it autonomy.
“Local government is the foundation of government. The aggregation of development in the local government will fast track development.
“I was a local government chairman and during our time, I was the ALGON chairman in Benue State. LG were having unfiltered access to their funds when the present Minister, George Akume was the Governor.
“But it is like we left with the local governments. Because of the nature of our society, in the face of emasculation, NULGE is not doing anything. They maintain a muted silence. Did they maintain silence when they sought for the position of leadership?
“I sponsored one of the bills of the LG autonomy that was rejected. As long as I remain in the national assembly, I will continue to return that bill.
“Local government is the bedrock of national development. We’ve not got it right that is why we are where we are. In the face of natural resources, bad management of our resources is the reason we are where we are.
“We need to constantly remind ourselves that we need to do the right thing. We must ensure LG get their autonomy.”
Also, the host Minister, George Akume, said there was need for massive development at the grassroots because of large number of population resident in rural areas.
“This is the reason why the debate on the devolution of power has been kept on the front burner for a long time.
“Countries practising Federalism have adapted its principles to suit their peculiarities, and are continuously working towards improving the system.
“This is the reason why the debate on the devolution of power has been kept on the front burner in Nigeria for a long time now.
“Federalism requires the growth of each Tier of Government on the one hand and an improvement of inter-government relationships among the Tiers on the other hand,” he added.