Local Government Councils Warned Against Frittering With and Abusing L.G. Autonomy
It is good news that long anticipated for Local Government Councils autonomy, orchestrated by officials at the third tiers of government has finally arrived.
Though it was not easy, the Local Governments finally smiled at last, as the Supreme Court of Federal Republic of Nigeria, finally gave the nod for financial autonomy for Local Government Councils in Nigeria.
States governors in the effort to control the Local Government Councils and the financial accruals from the federation account to Local Government Councils; dragged the Federal Government to court.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, represented the Federal Government.
The Supreme Court of Federal Republic of Nigeria, saw wisdom in the defence by Federal Government and ruled in favour of the Local Government Councils and Federal Government which gave birth for the financial autonomy for Local Government Councils in Nigeria.
The fear of the states governments was that, if the Local Government Councils are given financial autonomy, the states will not be able to control them and the finance that they get.
It is a statement of facts that, before the Supreme Court Judgement which okayed financial autonomy for Local Government Councils, the Local Governments Councils found it very cumbersome to meet their statutory responsibilities of providing qualitative governance at the third tiers of government.
The essence of Local Government Councils are to bring closer to the people at the grass root, but unfortunately, the Councils found it very difficult in the era of states control of the finance.
Some Local Government Councils could hardly pay their workers salaries, primary schools teachers salaries and not to talk of providing amenities , facilities, projects and infrastructures.
But under the financial autonomy, regime for Local Government Councils in the Country, the sad story is no longer the same.
Happily, now that the Local Government Councils, now have their financial autonomous, they should step up their performance and perform creditably well.
They should do the following, promotion of security at their Local Government Councils, provision of qualitative markets, building of health centres, empowerment of youths and women, providing access roads in rural areas, and partner their various states governments in developmental programmes.
To whom much is given much is expected.
By Comrade Ambassador Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen,National Coordinator Initiatives for Social Rights Concerns and Advancement (ISRCA)
