Nasarawa PDP Backs President Tinubu’s Move For LGA  Autonomy

…says the third tier of govt would have new direction 

Rabiu  Omaku

Nasarawa State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Honorable Francis Orogu has backed the recent move by the led Federal Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which was firm in ensuring that the third tier of Government attained the long-awaited independence.

The Chairman of the opposition political party said this during an interview with selected Journalists at the State Secretariat of the party.

Orogu described the move as the best way to reinvigorate the Local Government system from the clutches of the State Government and total control financially.

He said the scenario was a sorry State of affairs that led to the stunted development of the Local Government system.

He applauded the Federal Government for the timely effort that would usher in sharp and rapid development of the Local Government system

This agitation was coming at a time when the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission had joined the advocate for full autonomy of  Local Government Councils in the country.

He said the efforts to free Local Government from the firm control of State Governments through legal means by giving effect to the provisions of the Constitution was in the right direction.

The PDP Chairman said the essence of the establishment of Local Government is to ensure effective governance at the grassroots is not obtainable in today’s Local Government which are  rubber stamp to the State Government.

The Constitution of Nigeria recognizes Federal, States, and Local Governments as three tiers of government and that the three recognized tiers of government draw funds for their operation and function from the Federation Account created by the Constitution but the reverse is the case. 

Orogu decried State Governments’ dominance over the affairs of Local Governments especially on tenure and financial aspect.

The Nasarawa State PDP Chairman said the struggle for fiscal independence and hence their inability to provide quality service delivery in the area of infrastructure and social services to the grassroots as provided for in the Constitution makes the Local Government more vulnerable to State Governors.

He declared that the political control of State Governors has made it virtually difficult and almost impossible for the masses to decide who becomes their leaders at that level of governance, which is closest to the people. 

Francis Orogu explained that  giving full autonomy to third tier of Government will reduce the rate of poverty and rural urban migration, and bring more dividends of democracy to the people just as it will attract more qualified candidates for council elections that will improve governance system at all levels in the long run.

“Full autonomy will engender good governance, transparency and accountability at the Local Government level. Security challenges like banditry, kidnappings, terrorism, electoral violence, etc, would be reduced to the barest minimum if the quantum of funds meant for Local Governments is channeled towards rural development.” 

He added.  “This will raise agricultural productivity, increase income generation, arrest rural-urban migration, create wealth and generally improve the socio-economic living conditions of the rural populace”.

The Chairman posited that the current spate of insecurity in all parts of the country could be arrested if Local Government are granted full autonomy as Local Government administration being the closest level of government for effective participation of the teeming population of the country.