Proponents of local government autonomy have got a major
backer.
President Muhammadu Buhari declared yesterday his commitment to
the deal.
He described the local government as a tier of government
critical to his administration’s anti-corruption crusade.
The President spoke in Abuja at a national workshop on
anti-corruption, organised by the Association of Local Governments
of Nigeria (ALGON) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government
Employees (NULGE) .
He was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund,
in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
(SGF), Dr Habiba Lawal.
The President described the recent passage of the Local
Government Autonomy Bill by the National Assembly as an indication
that his administration had gradually begun the country’s
restructuring .
President Buhari said: “Apparently, it is corruption that led to
the relegation of the local government to the grips of the state
government over the years thereby distorting and demeaning the real
status of our federalism with regards to devolving governance. A
once vibrant tier of government, which occasioned development at
the grassroots, has gone into oblivion due to obvious reasons.
“The good news is that the disposition of the National Assembly
in granting autonomy to this very important tier of government is
an indication that we have started already to address the question
of restructuring which many Nigerians appear to be clamouring
for.
“I and my team are waiting patiently to receive the reports from
the state Houses of Assembly so as to do the needful in the event
that the current proposal for the review of the 1999 Constitution
(as amended ) come to us for consideration and assent.”
The President said his administration would continue to pursue
friendly policies that stimulate economic activities as well as
attract foreign investments.
“The workshop and its theme couldn’t have come at a better time
than now considering that Nigerians have spoken (through the
National Assembly) in favour of local government autonomy and must
be eagerly anticipating an autonomous third tier of government.
“Corruption in Nigeria as you all know is as visible as the nose
on our faces. The dire consequences of corruption have led
ultimately to what characterizes underdevelopment in Nigeria,
especially at the grassroots in particular and the sub-Sahara
Africa at large. It involves every tribe , section or sector of the
nation, including every tier and organ of government.”
The President reviewd the anti-corruption crusade. “So far the
experience has been daunting and the outcome quite revealing,” he
noted, adding that “despite significant success recorded in
recovering severally billions, corruption is fighting back even
harder than we envisaged”.
He urged workers at the grassroots to support his administration
in fighting against corruption, just as he acknowledged the role of
whistle blowers in the anti-corruption war
Buhari said “individuals must be seen to be morally upright.
Families must be willing to expose even their relatives found to be
involved in corrupt practices”.
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government
Employees, Ibrahim Khaleel, said the critical position of local
government in our federal system presupposes that the development
or otherwise of our country depends largely on the performance of
that tier of government
He added: “Sadly, the evidence of corruption in Nigeria,
particularly at the local government level, appears to be eternal
and its lingering effect has continuously bedevilled development at
that tier of government which represents the people.”
Proponents of local government autonomy have got a major
backer.
President Muhammadu Buhari declared yesterday his commitment to
the deal.
He described the local government as a tier of government
critical to his administration’s anti-corruption crusade.
The President spoke in Abuja at a national workshop on
anti-corruption, organised by the Association of Local Governments
of Nigeria (ALGON) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government
Employees (NULGE) .
He was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund,
in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
(SGF), Dr Habiba Lawal.
The President described the recent passage of the Local
Government Autonomy Bill by the National Assembly as an indication
that his administration had gradually begun the country’s
restructuring .
President Buhari said: “Apparently, it is corruption that led to
the relegation of the local government to the grips of the state
government over the years thereby distorting and demeaning the real
status of our federalism with regards to devolving governance. A
once vibrant tier of government, which occasioned development at
the grassroots, has gone into oblivion due to obvious reasons.
“The good news is that the disposition of the National Assembly
in granting autonomy to this very important tier of government is
an indication that we have started already to address the question
of restructuring which many Nigerians appear to be clamouring
for.
“I and my team are waiting patiently to receive the reports from
the state Houses of Assembly so as to do the needful in the event
that the current proposal for the review of the 1999 Constitution
(as amended ) come to us for consideration and assent.”
The President said his administration would continue to pursue
friendly policies that stimulate economic activities as well as
attract foreign investments.
“The workshop and its theme couldn’t have come at a better time
than now considering that Nigerians have spoken (through the
National Assembly) in favour of local government autonomy and must
be eagerly anticipating an autonomous third tier of government.
“Corruption in Nigeria as you all know is as visible as the nose
on our faces. The dire consequences of corruption have led
ultimately to what characterizes underdevelopment in Nigeria,
especially at the grassroots in particular and the sub-Sahara
Africa at large. It involves every tribe , section or sector of the
nation, including every tier and organ of government.”
The President reviewd the anti-corruption crusade. “So far the
experience has been daunting and the outcome quite revealing,” he
noted, adding that “despite significant success recorded in
recovering severally billions, corruption is fighting back even
harder than we envisaged”.
He urged workers at the grassroots to support his administration
in fighting against corruption, just as he acknowledged the role of
whistle blowers in the anti-corruption war
Buhari said “individuals must be seen to be morally upright.
Families must be willing to expose even their relatives found to be
involved in corrupt practices”.
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government
Employees, Ibrahim Khaleel, said the critical position of local
government in our federal system presupposes that the development
or otherwise of our country depends largely on the performance of
that tier of government
He added: “Sadly, the evidence of corruption in Nigeria,
particularly at the local government level, appears to be eternal
and its lingering effect has continuously bedevilled development at
that tier of government which represents the people.”
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