Katsina and challenges of LG administration
The legislative control granted to state governments provides that all-bye laws enacted by the local government councils must be endorsed by the state government. And the state government has the power to establish political structures and guide lines for local government operations. This is also an executive control through the ministry for local government by […]
The legislative control granted to state governments provides that all-bye laws enacted by the local government councils must be endorsed by the state government. And the state government has the power to establish political structures and guide lines for local government operations.
This is also an executive control through the ministry for local government by way of inspections, supervisions and monitoring of projects executed by the local government councils.
The states governments are also entitled to execute a certain degree of financial control on the local government finances in respect of statuary and internally generated revenue of local governments. There is also a budgetary control of all revenue and expenditure of local governments as well as the power to approve an annual budget and estimate of all local governments councils.
Katsina state government is lucky to be under the leadership of a competent and a constitutional lawyer of international repute who has an excellent record of previous performances and achievements. The executive Governor is in person of (Dr.) Barrister, Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Sarkin Yakin Kasar Hausa). There is no dispute whatsoever that he has recorded tremendous achievements in the entire local governments system of Katsina state which no doubt impacted positively on the 34 local government councils of Katsina state. It is on record that Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema is the first governor who up-graded the status of department of local governments and chieftaincy affairs, to a status of full – pledge Ministry with budgetary allocation and representation in the state executive council in order to effectively control and ensure that local government system is viable and efficient.
The Ministry also has a local government service Commission that is responsible for Human Resources Management of local government Personnel. The commission is fully equipped with experience and competent hands as members and also a season administrator as Permanent Secretary, they are versatile and up to date as per as local government operations are concern. There is also the office of the auditor general to the local government who are to ensure prudence, accountability and judicious utilization of local government funds and resources.
The above majors and controls were necessary and unavoidable going by the trend and leadership style of some local government administrators. This was experienced during the former president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Administration who granted full autonomy to the local government council but what transcends was inept and corrupt leadership with flagrant abuse of office and out right of victimization of local government personnel. Therefore, Shema administration in Katsina State is a blessing to the 34 local government areas considering its impact on local community and ordinary people in the area of Primary Education (UBE), Primary Health care, Agriculture, Execution of Developmental Projects and finally ensuring that security of lives and properties in the whole 34 local government areas of the state is non-negotiable at any price.
In order to strengthen the system education is accorded an upmost priority by the administration is the most valuable asset and legacy we should give to our children as an educated person is an asset to the community. This was exhibited in the appointment of Malam Suleiman Dikko as Executive Chairman of Primary Education (SUBEB). He is a technically proficient psychologist of education; he is carrier academician and a tested and trusted manager of educational resources who is committed in providing qualitative education to our children.
The administration has made tremendous contribution in ensuring that local government councils has a series of developmental projects that touches the life of ordinary citizens. The projects include the construction of 30 No. of low-cost houses that are meant for an average income earner to own a personal house in each and every local government council of the state. Even though some critiques are opposed to uniform projects, but not knowing that, Late Sardauna administration of Northern region in 1960s has constructed uniform projects e.g. area courts and District offices to provinces and district councils. While the North Central States (Kaduna) has constructed divisional area councils which were later converted into local government head quarters. Therefore, uniform projects were not initiated only by Shema administration and similar developmental projects were executed by the local government councils, including roads, culverts, boreholes and mosques.
The Shema administration has also encouraged local government councils to purchase trucks, water tankers and other earth moving machines such as graders in order to accelerate rural development programmes in the state.
Because of the need to enhance quality primary health care development, uniform projects of maternal and children homes were constructed in many local government areas, in line millennium development goals. Ambulances and refuse disposal vans were also purchased and distributed to primary health care and environmental health offices under the influence of Shema administration.
Finally, it is my inward conviction and conclusion that the relationship between the two tiers of governments in the state is excellent, cordial and in line with the National Policy on inter-governmental relations. May God bless Katsina State.
Ali Aliyu Saulawa is a local govt. practitioner