- Say States Assembly stumbling block
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties, Tukuru Kabir Ibrahim has assured Nigerians that the House of Representatives would pass the local government autonomy bill.
Ibrahim disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the annual conference of functionaries and key actors in local government administration.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs and titled: ‘The Trajectory of Local Government Administration in Nigeria and Institutional Challenges’.
He, however, accused state Houses of Assembly of blocking the dependence of local government because of the agenda of state governors.
“The local government, in my opinion, is the most important in public administration and because it is the closest to the grassroots of the people.
“But unfortunately that arm of government has been starved and it has been left for death, which in my opinion is the root cause of almost all the problems we have in this country.
“If the local government cannot service the people then it is hard for states and federal government to reach the people.
“The local government is supposed to serve as a bridge between the people and the government.
“There are a lot of challenges– political interference. The local government cannot function without the interference of state government which is very discouraging.
“Also, we have lack of funding. The opinion of the House of Representatives is that local government should be free.
“We want to abolish over dependence of local government on state government.
“I carry the message of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
“He has asked me to assure you that the 10th Assembly is going to make sure that the local government autonomy bill is passed.
“The main issue is if it is going to be passed by the State Houses of Assembly. It is a collective task.
“This is where we all need to come on board. Of you lobby the state Houses of Assembly we can achieve it. There is nothing we cannot achieve with consistency. Do not wait until the bill comes to the National Assembly, start campaigning,” he said.
Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental affairs, Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo, who presented the ministry’s strategic roadmap noted that the local government would be given a pride of place in order to reduce poverty and entrench good governance.
“In Nigeria, local government administration has undergone a long and complex journey which includes: Pre-Independence, Colonial Era, Post-Independence but it was in1976 that Local Government Reforms introduced elected local councils, emphasizing the importance of grassroots governance
“However, subsequent military regimes and constitutional changes led to various setbacks.
“These setbacks include but not limited to: financial autonomy, corruption, political interference, and lack of capacity among local officials.
“The resultant effect being a disconnect between the government and the governed at the grassroots level, hindering development and service delivery.
“These problems are not insurmountable and can be tackled by granting financial autonomy to Local Councils, instituting robust anti-corruption mechanisms and transparency initiatives, promoting decentralization of political power and improving on capacity development.
“In view of the above, I believe we can make our local governments into efficient organizations that genuinely meet the needs of the populace by implementing the appropriate reforms and maintaining our commitment to good governance.
“Now, I am delighted to present the Ministry’s Strategic Plan, which outlines our vision for the future of the Ministry.
“The Strategic Plan that we present today is not just a document; it is a roadmap that will guide our actions, decisions, and investments in the coming years.
“The key to this strategic plan is the recognition that Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs is not merely a bureaucratic function, but a force that binds our nation together.
“We understand that our diversity is our strength, and it is through cooperation and inclusivity that we can harness the full potential of our great country.