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Restoring local governments’ autonomy

By Oshineye Victor Oshisada.
13 November 2016   |   3:39 am
What are the needs for local government councils? Why are we not satisfied with just the Central and state (or regional) governments? Such configuration is inadequate.
local government

local government

I will support a Bill to free Local Governments from states,” says President Buhari. That was the headline of a new – story in the Nigerian Tribune on September 16, 2016. The argument is simply that, if the Federal Government controls its funds, and the states governments also possess and regulate their allocations separately from the Central Governments, it is absurd to deprive the Local Government Councils of their legitimate funds. It is a news – story that tickles the mind. However, the fulfillment of the President’s assurance is most expected. One of the inhibitions to our progress is the tie of Local Governments to the apron strings of the states.

To be tied to the apron strings of a principal is a manifestation of control.

What are the needs for local government councils? Why are we not satisfied with just the Central and state (or regional) governments? Such configuration is inadequate. Nigeria is a large and heterogeneous country. There must be additional paraphernalia of local administration. Local control of affairs permits variation in government according to the differences in our local needs, local character and local circumstances. For instance, a rural area requires different solutions to problems, as distinct from urban area. Such solutions are better left to the local authorities that are familiar with and aware of them. Each area, too, has its peculiar difficulties, which the states or the central (that is, the federal) government cannot tackle. In the solution of such problems, it is desirable to enlist the support of the respective local leaders.

With local governments, civic consciousness is aroused, tradition is built up and local pride fostered. Local government produces continuity of policies, and councillors find it easy to serve together for efficient local services. Further, from local governments, professional state and federal politicians begin their apprenticeships. In The Guardian, October 9, 2016, my opinion piece on “Women as state governors” the necessity for their apprenticeship was stressed, and that it should begin from local level. More – over, local officials tend to be in constant contacts with the public. This writer is able to pontificate on local government, because he is its product and it is the nearest tier to him than the state and federal governments. As it is the nearest to him, so it is to all members of the public who feel its pulse.

This opinion piece is incomplete, if the functions of local councils are not mentioned, as stipulated in the 1999 Constitutions: Collection of rates, radio and television licences; establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for the destitute or infirm; licensing of bicycles, trucks (other than mechanically propelled trucks), canoes, wheel barrows and carts; establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, markets, motor parks and public conveniences; construction and maintenance of roads, streets, street lightings, drains and other public highways, parks, gardens, open spaces, or such public facilities as may be prescribed from time to time by the House of Assembly of a state; naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses; provision and maintenance of public conveniences, sewage and refuse disposal; registration of all births, deaths and marriages; assessment of privately-owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a state; and the provision and maintenance of primary, adult and vocational education; the development of agriculture and natural resources, other than exploitation of minerals; the provision and maintenance of health services; and such other functions as may be conferred on a local government council by the House of Assembly of the states. The feeding of students, which the Buhari administration contemplates should better be funded by the Federal Government, but be assigned or routed through local authorities for the initiative to succeed. The process must not be handled directly by the Federal Government.

Invariably, most functions and duties that are supposed to be taken up by the local governments are usurped by to render it higgledy-piggledy the state governments, pretending to be over – burdened with too much responsibilities In order to be in control of the purse string. This must stop forthwith. Local governments must be free from state control financially for autonomy. There must be separation to enable local authorities perform. If the duties and the functions of the local governments are as diverse as enumerated above, restoring its financial autonomy is necessary. The military – inspired and engineered Constitution of 1999 is not equitable as far local governments are concerned.

The relationship between the states and the 774 local governments as at now does not promote efficiency and enhance progress. Starved of funds, the result is the impairment of integrity, virtue or moral principle of the staff; debauchery. For survival, they have recourse to illicit sources of income. Normalcy may take time to return the local government councils to the path of honour, because the councillors and council officials are mentally conditioned to certain crude modus operandi, from which they cannot be easily cured. Now, the ball is in the court of the Association of the Local Governments in Nigeria (ALGON). Preparatory to the separation of the Councils from the states, the Association must, with the aids of their counsel, draft the provisions of the Bill to free the local councils from the states. If such effort is long made, the review of the draft must be carried out to meet with modern circumstances.

It is an urgent matter that requires the constant proddings of the President, to ensure its passage before the expiry of his tenure. A willing President is not the same as a reluctant one.

• Oshisada, a veteran journalist, lives in Lagos.

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