Group advocates accountability in local governance

The workshop with the theme: “Enhancing Accountability in Local Governance has brought together the officials of the Gwale local government, community-based leaders and activists, who brainstormed to find a way forward for better governance at the local level. Declaring the training workshop open, the Executive Director, CHRICED, Ibrahim M. Zikrullah said the objective of the […]

The workshop with the theme: “Enhancing Accountability in Local Governance has brought together the officials of the Gwale local government, community-based leaders and activists, who brainstormed to find a way forward for better governance at the local level.

Declaring the training workshop open, the Executive Director, CHRICED, Ibrahim M. Zikrullah said the objective of the training was to sensitize the participants on the basic principles of accountability in governance; by providing them with essential skills on accountable governance for sound decision making, and for effective participation in the development of democracy and in meeting the needs of the citizenry.

Zikrullah said Nigerians want a paradigm shift, “a shift of focus on Nigerians, both old and young, men and women, working class and unemployed; to be educated, trained and empowered, to have the useful and relevant knowledge they need to construct a democratic polity in which all citizens will live in peace and harmony.”

Highlighting the problems bedevilling the local government areas in Nigeria, a University don, Dr Abubakar Momoh, in a paper he presented titled: “Participatory Democracy and the Question of Political Accountability”, said the diversion of local government funds by state governments, traditional rulers and other stakeholders; such as godfathers had contributed to the underdevelopment of the communities at the local level.

He noted that instead of using the funds allocated to the councils to develop the area, local government chairmen share the funds with the state governors and other stakeholders. “Many local government chairmen merely view their positions as that of regular disbursement of public money to state governors, traditional rulers, their so-called godfathers and hangers on,” he said.

Momoh added that the most fundamental problem of local governments is that most of them owe their allegiance to the state governors and state officials who are their benefactors and not the people of the community, saying they were not sensitive to community demands.

Speaking on accountability in governance, Momoh said “it begins with popularly secured electoral mandate which should be the basis upon which the contract with the people was signed.”

According to him, where the elected representatives where neither elected nor represent the interest of the people, then there was no basis for political accountability, adding that the first form of accountability starts with genuine electoral victory at the electoral box.

He stressed the need for community participation, saying local governments should review their style of governance and seek to involve the people in decision making processes.

He further explained that, “better means and channels of communications and dialogue with the communities through their organised groups and not merely “government approved” community groups should be created.”

The university don also advocated for constitutional review to grant more political and financial autonomy to local governments stressing that Nigerian constitution should be explicit about the role and functions of local governments including tenure of local government office holders.

He further emphasized the need for training and re-training of local government staff as well as providing modern facilities and infrastructure in the local government for effective service delivery to the people.

Speaking in the same vein, another speaker, Professor Kabiru Dandago in a paper presentation entitled: “Governance and the Financial Accountability Question: The Role of Whistle Blowers at Local Government Level”, said whistle blowers have a vital role in entrenching good governance.

He said, “In public governance, the citizens are expected to play the role of whistle blowers for them to instil discipline, especially where those in government are insensitive to the plight of the generality of the masses.”

Dandago added that citizens could play that role serving under the cover of a community-based organisation, civil society organisation, faith-based organisation and students unions.

He further posited that the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria contains many provisions that empower the citizens to exercise the right of ensuring accountable governance at all the three-tiers of government in the country. This right should be exercised if financial accountability and good governance are to be obtained from those at the helm of affairs in all the 774 local governments in Nigeria.”

According to him the actions of whistle blowers are potentially beneficial to society, saying the weakness or absence of prudence, transparency and accountability at any level of governance deserves whistle blowing by courageous individuals.

He noted that serious ethical violations that should ginger whistle blowing were “spending government money outside budget appropriation, extravagant spending of public money, abandoned projects that would touch the lives of the masses, glaring connivance among arms of government to defraud the treasury, poor governmental financial reporting, violating laws about hiring and firing, violating laws about workplace safety and violating health laws,” he enumerated.

In another paper, “Rule of Law and Democratisation in Nigeria”, Professor Haruna Wakili said democracy thrives on constitutionality, respect for rule of law and advancement and protection of human rights of citizens.

He explained that no constitutional government can exist without the rule of law, saying “sustainable democracy must be predicated on effective strategies for a return to constitutionalism, respect for due process, and executive lawfulness.”

Underscoring the role of the judiciary in a democratic dispensation, Wakili said:”One fundamental strategy identified for enhancing rule of law and democracy is to strengthen the judiciary in all respects; adequate remuneration for judicial officers, improved facilities in the administration of justice and more importantly increased autonomy of the judiciary from the executive branch in terms of finances and respect of appointment to the bench, among others.”

He added that in order to promote and sustain democracy and good governance in the country, civic education to enhance the political skills of Nigerians must be pursued.