It is good news that President Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded a Bill to the National Assembly to stop the operation of the Joint State/Local Government Accounts. The president’s action is predicated on calls by well-meaning Nigerians for financial autonomy to be granted the constitutionally recognized 774 Local Government Areas in the country.
The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, who stated this in Abuja last week, also said that government is fully committed to ensuring that effective local government system that would serve as a catalyst for grassroots development is entrenched. The Bill, if passed into law and assented to by the president, would be one of the best that has emanated from the presidency. We are hopeful that it will eventually become law. For many years, local government allocation has been hijacked by the various state governments because of absence of a truly local government system in our practice of democracy.
Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution allows for an elected administration in the councils but in practice, most of the councils in Nigeria are administered by appointed chairmen or caretaker committees. Only very few can be said to be under democratically elected officials. Even in those with elected administrations, their finances are under direct control of the state government. Hence, there is no visible development in practically all the 774 councils in Nigeria.
Their roads are as dilapidated as ever. There is nothing to show that there is grassroots government in Nigeria. And, this is the tier of government that is supposed to be closer to the people. Unfortunately, the nation’s councils exist only on paper. In reality, they are not centres of rural governance and development Ordinarily, local government is supposed to be the third tier of government.
As a third tier government, all local governments are supposed to be independent. And, because some state governors do not ascribe to this independence, they have done all in their power to ensure the emasculation of the councils so that they can utilise their federal allocations as they like. One instrument that gave the governors the power of control of the councils is the State/Local Government Joint Accounts. Once this umbilical cord is broken, the councils can be in a position to develop their areas. Under the uniform account system, States have dictated projects for councils and disbursed council funds as they like.
That is why officials at the local government level are largely not elected. In some states where elections were held in the councils, the party in power ensured that its candidates won all the seats. They do this in connivance with electoral officers of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs). This scenario obtains because SIEC officials are appointed by the governor, who expect them to be loyal to him and his party. With SIEC in place, outcome of council polls are predictable. With SIEC, it will be difficult for the opposition to win an election at council level. This is why many state governments have not conducted council polls despite constitutional provision for elected council administration in the country.
We applaud the president for coming forth with this important Bill that will restore financial autonomy to the councils. It is, indeed, a bold but necessary initiative that will instill confidence and give verve to the local government system in the country. Let the National Assembly expedite action on the Bill and pass it so that the president can assent to it. But, the new initiative should not, in any way, be an invitation for council chairmen to become emperors. At the same time, we urge the federal legislators to resist any attempt to kill the Bill.
In fact, the legislators should ensure that the structure of the councils is clearly defined so that state governors would not encroach on their activities. Let them not succumb to pressure and lobbying from governors to stifle the Bill. This Bill is of national interest and importance. Local government autonomy should not stop at finances; it should cover elections into the councils as well. Over time, SIEC has not lived up to public expectation where conduct of council polls is concerned.
In all its elections, the party in power in any state usually wins the entire seats. This is not good for our democracy. Perhaps, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will in future handle council polls just as it handles all other polls in the country. All elected council officials should have uniform tenure throughout the country. We say this because SIECs, as experience has shown, are more often than not loyal to the governments that appoint their members.
Thank u Mr President for the bold step you have taken, to salvage the councils from the hands of their Emperors (GOVs). who also turn the councils to mere paying centers (sub treasury) without meaningful dev. as third tier of govt. Who sometimes used 20% of the council allocation to execute two projects & shouted as if state Funds are being used.There is hope 4 this country.
3 tier government as the constitution stipulates will be complete with inec conducting local council elections also. The governors who assumed demi-god status need their excesses curbed.
I am a bit confused about this article. It says that Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution allows for an elected administration in the councils. So what is Jonathan introducing? Seems like enforcement is the issue (which is the job of the executive, i.e. the president). Even if a new bill is introduced and passed in the house, it would still need to be enforced. The problem with Nigeria is not that it lacks responsible progressive laws. Nigeria lacks meaningful enforcement of laws.
senators pls dnt delay, go ahead and pass the bill, this has been in my mind,the govs have killed d local govt. Tank u mr president
Thanks you mr president for this wonderful idea because this will enhance the development of the country especially in some of the rural areas which some of our states Governor have not visited. This is the tier of government that knows the most pressing need of it’s communities and bring government to the door step of common man.may God help you with this new idea .
Local govt financial autonomy without long-term economy master plan that will transformed the economy potential of rural areas in the intrest of urban-rural migration will be mere aiding bureaucracy in the system. Long term statutary economy master plan for local govt administration which the will centralised to a minister of local govt affair independently from state governors should be the priority of this administration before the issue of financial autonomy. @52 rural areas remained like 1960, if not the legacy of late MARYAM BABANGIDA (Better life for the rural women) this messianic programme was unprecedented in giving JOY to rural dwellers.
I love the move by the fg.
If this is done, then we’re practicing real federalism & true democracy in the country. The siecs seems as personal possessions of state governors, who use them to rig elections 4 their candidates that will be loyal 4 them in cutting local govt finances. Kudos to Mr. President.
Let us hope that if and when the new bill is passed the governors will still not find some way to undermine it if they cannot not circumvent it.
Thank u so much our dear President. It is the prayer of Nigerians that the national assembly resists any lobbying from the governors to subdue this noble act. Fresh Air to Nigeria
kudos mr Prsident,i pray that this bill be passed without delay.Local govt. financial autonomy is long over due. Nigerians are eager to see this come true.
I want them to equally dissolve all the state Electoral system.
Thanks a lot Mr President for this act of salvation of the grassroots people from the strong hand of the Pharaohs {govs}. Posterity will remember you for good at least for this. The the unrepentant stubborn Pharaohs with their sychophant foot soilders be drown in the red sea of power loss. Long live Mr President, long live the LGAs.
Good initiative, Mr. President.
SIEC is been apointed by state governor, therefore if election is conducted d governor party won all the seat,bcos SIEC must be loyal to d governor, most of d state did not have elected chairman exept administrator apointed by governors, they sit on LG monthly alocation that is wy there is no development at d grass root.if financial autonomus can be granted to LG at least there wil be litle improvement, i call it litle becos of corruption in Nigeria.
Going by the topic, i would have urge the EFFC, National Assembly and other related bodies to probe how the joint accounts of the 34 local gov’t areas of Katsina state was managed within 2years of absented Chairmanship or caretakers.
I pray this bill sail thru. If the legislators have the interest of the common man, they should support it. deltans will rejoice with you all. Na wah. Delta State gov now Uduaghan. Delta Statle Local Govt Chairman for the 25 LGAs now Uduaghan. Haba. Wetin.
Please3 send another bill that will transfer the responsibility to conduct Local Govt Electionbs to INEC. It will be a more transparent process free from State Governors interference. It will also save cost and duplication.
I hope dt one day INEC wil be incharge of LGA election no more SIEC
Mr President has done well to at least give hope to the long hopelessness of third tier government in Nigeria. The autonomy of the third tier should include political autonomy because, economic power without political autonomy is akin to education without institutional framework. Accordingly, Local Government Elections should be handled by INEC. The tenure of the council should be as in state government. That is four years. Ministries of Local Government at the state level should be staffed from Local Government personnel in the state. The same should apply for Local Government Service Commissions; the Office of Local Government Audit Department; and that of the Local Government Penson Board. NULGE is hereby invited to ensure that Mr President’s dream for enabling autonomy for Local Government System in Nigeria is actualized with the speed of light. As a matter of fact, as long as there is any legal control of Local Government affairs by the state government, to that long, the autonomy of Local Government remains at best, laughable. The good news ís that gone are the days when Local Government administration is said to lack qualified personnel. For the avoidance of doubt, the products of Local Government Staff trainings since 1979 in Nigeria is enough to dwarf the arrogated superiority of state government pesonnel.
This is another afront on federalism and the authority of state governments. Does the local councils belong to the federal government? Granted that so far the administration of councils have fallen short of the expectation of the people, will it be right for the presidents to overtake the state governors and give allocations to councils? Or come to think of it, how will it sound when council chairman travel to Abuja for monthly allocation without the authorisation of the governors? Who will they be accountable to and what will be the role of state houses of Assemblies in monitoring council expenses. If the state governors do have influence over who administers the council, will be right for the president to come all the way from Abuja, to determine for instance who will be in charge of Ukwa East LGA in Abia state. All the governors must fight and destroy this proposed amendment.
This is a bill Nigerians should not toy with. A government without the grassroots is like an economy without the final consumer. Even Mr president to the least in this country knows that the governors will do everything to kill this bill. Let the president give Nigerians the best and protect this bill. Please Mr President, this bill is long overdue.
Your Excellency,” Mr. President”, u have done well to passed this bill…but it must be followed-up, otherwise the house will hijacked this bill and dumped it in the recycling bin.
OOOH UNTIL THE DAY THE POWER OF LOVE OVER COMES THE LOVE OF POWER THEN THE WORLD WILL KNOW PEACE,…THE SPIRIT OF THOSE IGBO’S KILLED DURING CIVIL WAR WILL NEVER LET NIGERIA HAVE PEACE, APPEASE THEM NIGERIA, GIVE THEM BEFITTING BURIAL, GOWON SAID HE HAS NO REGRET TO FIGHT CIVIL WAR, LET SEE GOD MUST FIGHT FOR IGBO’S WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NIGERIA TILL NOW AT 52 YEARS THEY SAID IGBOS WILL NOT RULE THEN, WHAT IS THE STATE OF NIGERIA? IS NIGERIA GOOD? IS NIGERIA WORTH TO BE COUNTRY, STILL AT 52 YEARS NIGERIA ACHIEVE NOTHING, NO LIGHT NO ROAD BUT STILL THE WEST AND NORTH SAID THEY WANT TO RULE, BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT GOOD THING ALWAYS COMES FROM NAZARETH, WISE MEN COMES FROM EAST, GIVE IGBO’S PRESIDENCY AND SEE IF NIGERIA WILL NOT BE A PARADISE ON EARTH, THROUGH IGBO MAN NIGERIA GO INDEPENDENCE SO THROUGH IGBO MAN THE COUNTRY WILL BE NICE AND WONDERFUL BELIEVE IT OR NOT, GOOD THING CAN COME FROM NAZARETH, WHERE PEOPLE NEGLECT OR ABANDON WILL BE THE WAY, REMEMBER THE REJECTED STONE WAS LATER BECOME THE CHIEF CORNER STONE QED
Most senators are puppets of some governors and I will only be suprise if the bill survive in the senate. The senator should however know that killing this bill meaning killing themself politically.
I DON’T THINK MOST NIGERIANS AND HER POLITICAL CLASS KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD A HEALTHY NATION. PLEASE AND PLEASE WE DON’T NEED THESE PIECE MEAL REFORMS, WHAT WE NEED IS A BRAND NEW CONSTITUTION THAT WILL ADDRESS THE MULTI-NATIONAL PROBLEMS NEGATING OUR GROWTH AS A NATION AND NOT BILLS THROUGH PARLIAMENTARY ACTS. STATES CUM LOCAL GOVT JOINT ACCOUNTS AND SIEC ARE BUT FRACTIONS OF DEVELOPMENTAL DUNGEONS LIMITING NIGERIA. IF THE LAWMAKERS AND THE PRESIDENCY ARE SERIOUS IN THE EVOLUTION OF PEOPLES CONSTITUTION SOONEST, EVERY NEW BILL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CHANELLED INTO THE NEW ONE.
It’s good news but who will now monitor the local govt. in khana local govt in rivers state where is nothing to show opon all the billions collected from the allocation. This bill will be good if there is a proper check on the council. The council election must not be be done by the state . What the state does is to appoint any criminal to rule over a local govt at the expense of others.
In fact, kudos goes to u mr president 4 ds giant step taking. May u lv long in ur leadership. Atlist d pupils or indigin of any LG will now know who to hold responsible incase of any failure or default in his/her LG. In fact, if ds bill will see d lite of d day, we promise u an Electn coming 2015.
like they always say,change is the only constant thing,but people like George Kalu have constantly resisted change but notwithstanding their/his parochial and myopic submissions,i most constitutionally urge mr president to go ahead with this democratic decision and see to the full implementation of the later!thanks.