From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Following the supreme court verdict that granted financial autonomy to local government, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has implored the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to monitor the 774 chairmen and funds under them.
IPAC Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, who address journalists yesterday in Abuja, told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to scrap State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), which he said had become appendage of state governors.
According to him, NEC should be empowered and mandated to conduct all the Local Governments elections, to strengthen the country’s democratic process.
He said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)should immediately set up a monitoring team to
ensure funds released to Local Governments are prudently and
judiciously used for the good of the people.
“This will guard against unscrupulous elements from devising new means of siphoning the funds.
“There must be transparency, probity and accountability in the utilization of funds allocated to the Local Government Areas.
“With this historic judgement, Nigerians expect rapid development of Local Government Areas as millions of jobs will be created to curb unemployment thus, curtail crimes in the country.
“On the other hand, IPAC advocates for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) as they have proven to be incompetent and incapable of conducting free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections.
“They have become mere appendages of various government houses. SIECs do not have voter registers, BVAS, IReV portals, ballot boxes, etc, essential in conducting credible polls.
“INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu rightly described Local Government elections as coronation of candidates of the ruling political parties.
“The State Independent Electoral Commission is a dent on the nation’s hard-earned democracy. It is time to stop the charade called SIEC elections if we are serious and determined to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
“To restore confidence in the electoral process, INEC should be empowered and mandated to conduct all the Local Governments elections.”