Wednesday’s approval for clear autonomy for the third tier of government, the Local Government by the Senate during the clause by clause adoption of the amended provisions of the 1999 Constitution has started generating reactions from Nigerians.
Currently, local government administration had been fused with states, thus making the state governors, the lords of both their states and local governments especially in the use of federal allocations.
The situation was further deepened by the running of joint account with the state governor calling the shots in the determination of how local government’s funds will be used whether there is an elected chairmen or appointed care taker committees.
But going by the new provision as passed by the Senate, all these will change to allow chairmen to have direct access to their federal allocation and further order for their use for the interest of their constituent communities.
In a telephone interview, a former local government chairman in Lagos who pleaded anonymity said “I think the idea is very good because it will put chairmen on their toes to make good use of resources made available to them”.
“If the law is finally passed by both chambers and assented by the President, it means institution of true fiscal federalism at state and local government level.
“I want to inform those thinking that the new law will make council chairmen small gods to become somehow stubborn to the governors that it will not be possible because there are still controlling powers on the side of the state governor and even state Houses of Assembly to monitor activities council chairmen.
The former LG boss revealed that “It was in order to make it earlier for them to be making use of local government allocation anyhow they want that many states’ governors are in the habit of substituting conduct of local government elections with appointment of caretaker chairmen.
Another retired Director of Administration and Finance in Orlu Local government Area of Imo State who chose to speak on grounds of anonymity, said the new law is a step in the right direction.
According to him, some governors have turned local government allocation to their ATMs and use their allocations to the detriment of the communities that made up the councils, thereby frustrating business and allied developments.
He said governors have made local government administration to look like an extension of their personal empires which is not supposed to be so.
“In fact, what Nigerian local governments’ chairman had been reduced to is instrument of paying only workers salaries and that is at the mercy of the governors.
He said “With the development, chairmen will begin to see their position as very challenging as they will not only deliver projects to stand for their legacies, but try to add more values to the grassroots development as they will have no excuses to give in terms of governors squeezing them with underfunding or infractions in their monthly allocations.
Business Hilights also gathered that the Senate also voted against devolution of powers, while the Federal lawmakers have voted in favour of immunity in respect of words spoken or written at plenary sessions.
The lawmakers are also voting in favour of the amendments that the President must nominate Ministers within 30 days and attach the portfolios of the Ministers to the Senate when sending for confirmation.
Other critical adoptions by the upper chambers include the separation of the office of the Minister and Commissioner of Justice from the Attorney General of the Federation and of states to create an independent office of the Attorney General of the Federation insulated from partisanship.
Another new approval was making it obligatory for the President to deliver a State of the Nation address in a joint session of the National Assembly.
The Senate also approved Electronic Voting for further elections and ruled that former presidents or governors who had completed the tenure of their bosses and contested and win a fresh term will not be eligible for a second term contest. Observers say this clause may be targeting former president Goodluck Jonathan.
