The Senate has called on the Federal Government to stop further allocation of funds to caretaker committee-led local government councils across the country.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Suleiman Kawu (NNPP-Kano) on: “Urgent Call on the President to Resuscitate Local Government System in Nigeria,” at Wednesday’s plenary.
Kawu said: “The challenges we face, persistent security threats, rural-urban migration, decaying infrastructure and widespread unemployment, demand bold action.
“And we believe that empowering local government areas holds the key to unlocking a brighter future for all Nigerians.”
Moving the motion, Kawu said the dream of achieving the objectives of the local government system encountered harsh realities, adding: “Successive governments often eroded local autonomy, limiting their financial resources and control over decision-making.
“Corruption scandals and mismanagement tarnished the image of some local governments, fueling public cynicism.”
The lawmaker also expressed worry that some governors played a crucial role in frustrating local government autonomy in Nigeria through constitutional alteration processes.
He said: “With limited financial and operational autonomy, local governments may struggle to effectively address local security concerns like community policing initiatives and intelligence gathering.”
Contributing, Senator Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe) said that local governments must be effective and must be guaranteed by the Constitution.
Lawan said: “I urge that we find a way of improving the capacity of those who run the local government system because I believe this requires devolution of powers.”
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC-Abia) said that local government funds must be returned 100 percent to the local government councils and improve the capacity of the people running the councils.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (APC-Anambra) said that to promote good governance in the country, “we must amend Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution.
“We need to amend so that we can start having values for democracy in our states.
“A state like Anambra has not conducted local government elections in the last 18 years.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over plenary, said the motion was apt and in tandem with “the zeal of all senators to bring sanity to bear in the local government system”.
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