Stakeholders Uphold LG Autonomy at the National Dialogue on LG, Constitution Amendment
House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, in collaboration with policy and legal advocacy centre (PLAC), with support from the UK Foreign, commonwealth and development office (FCDO). organised a National Dialogue on Local Government and Constitution Amendment today in Abuja.
The event converged key government functionaries both from Federal, States and Local Governments, deliberate on way forward on local governments autonomy.
In his goodwill message, the Senate President, God’sWill Akpabio, ably Represented by Sen Salisu Afolabi, said the dialogue is a way to seek solution to empower the local governments. the local governments have been facing lack of funds
Buttressing that true democracy reaches the grassroots, and connect the citizens to the government.
In his welcome address, the Speaker House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas PhD, represented by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said the dialogue is series of consultation and citizens view. which focuses on the local government system, as the closest government to the people.
Adding that it exists to meet unique need of citizens and bring citizens closer to the government.
He decried that inadequate funding has been one of the major obstacles facing the local governments system in Nigeria.
Over the years, local governments became appendix of the state government who monopolize the resources. He expressed thanks to Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making local governments autonomy crucial and development partners UK international development, PLAC and others.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, Abdulraman Abdulrazak, Represented by Chijioke Chukwu, said “local Government Autonomy, is a way of Empowering local governments and the state governors are eager to work hand in hand with the local governments to achieve this, together they can boast Nigeria economy through various collaboration and achieve Sustainable Development Goals, (SDG’s).
In his keynote Speech, Prof. Tony Onyishi, HOD, Public Administration and Government, University of Nigeria Nsuka,
(UNN), Enugu State, while speaking on the theme: “Setting the Context for Local Government Reform”, said local governments in Nigeria are intended to be the cornerstone of grassroots to governance, bridging the gap between government and citizens.
“We have 774 local governments in Nigeria, if they are fully developed, Nigeria will be developed
He lamented on current system limitations: party driven local elections, limitated community representation, political maneuvering over governance, independent candidacy, merits based selection, reduced political interference and international procedure.
Prof.Tony, noted critical success factors such as, political will, comprehensive planning, sustained commitment, and adaptive implementation.
Other Speakers at the occasion includes: Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, Sen Adams Oshomole, Ene Obi, from Action Aid and host of others.