SAN lists threat to LG autonomy

By Lukman Olabiyi

Professor Oludayo Amokaye has stressed the need to urgently resolve pending existential threats to local government administration to enforce the Supreme Court judgement granting financial autonomy.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who stated this at the 20th Annual Adekunle Kukoyi Memorial Lecture organised by the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Lagos State branch, pointed out that despite the lofty objectives of the Nigerian constitution’s framers, local governments in Nigeria have been facing an existential threat and gross erosion of autonomy.

Amokaye whose lecture dwelt on’’Usurpation of powers and functions: A case study of local government administration and autonomy’’ said one of the most significant challenges to local government governance in the country is the non-democratisation of the electoral process, adding that election into the local government is vested in the state government which in most cases is not conducted.

“Where such elections take place, the party in government in the affected state often uses the state apparatus to rig the election in favour of their party’s candidates, thereby eroding their autonomy and independence and undermining the democratic process.’’

As a way solving the problems, he called for immediate amendment of the 1999 Constitution to remove all the ambiguities as to the status, creation, funding and duties of the local government with a view to bringing into line the recent decisions of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy and strengthen the local government as a competent, efficient and effective third tier of government to the benefit of all Nigerians.

“State governments must ensure democratic governance at the local government level. This can be achieved through free and fair elections and the institutionalisation of local government autonomy.’’ 

He said the independence of the state electoral commission must be strengthened and guaranteed from political manipulation by state governments.

Earlier, Chairman of NIS, Lagos State branch, Olukolade Kasim said Adekunle Kukoyi said: “Our lecture themes over the years have cut across issues affecting our society – leadership and good governance, integrity, socio-economic development, to name a few; I would like to thank all past lecturers and all participants who have contributed to making the lecture series a success over the years.’’

He hailed Adekunle Kukoyi, president of NIS from 1973-1978 and first President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) as an icon for many in the surveying community.