LGs scrap: North’s biggest loss

Unlike the three other zones from the South, the North seemed to be the worst hit, with little or no single achievement in its kitty. It came to the conference with about 450 local government areas but lost all of them at the end. It is arguably the region’s biggest loss. From its composition, the […]

Unlike the three other zones from the South, the North seemed to be the worst hit, with little or no single achievement in its kitty. It came to the conference with about 450 local government areas but lost all of them at the end. It is arguably the region’s biggest loss.
From its composition, the North seemed to have gone to the conference as a minority though it is the most populous region in the country. But after months of heated debates, the North’s numerical disadvantage has really come to the limelight having failed to accomplish any of its several agenda.
Northern delegates went to the conference with the following major agenda: 13 percent derivation should be calculated from onshore alone; the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy abolished by the National Assembly be returned; Federal Ministry of Niger Delta, Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) and the Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta ex-militants be scrapped; local governments should remain as the third tier of government; there should be no state police;  special funds for North-east zone and solid mineral development, among others.
While the major South-South’s agenda were: total ownership and control of minerals, oil and gas resources by oil-producing states; 50 percent derivation formula; onshore/offshore oil dichotomy should not be reintroduced; local governments should be scrapped; the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta, NNDC, and Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta ex-militants should remain; there should be state police.
The South-West’s agenda included: states should be replaced by six or more geo-political zones as federating units; parliamentary system should replace the presidential system; onshore/offshore oil dichotomy abolished by the National Assembly be returned; 13 percent derivation should be calculated from onshore oil alone; state police force; geo-political zones as federating units should create states and local governments as they deem fit; states should have their constitutions.
The South-East’s interests included: an additional state be created for the zone; presidential system should remain with modifications; states should be allowed to create their police force; local governments should be removed as a tier of government; the presidency should be rotated between the six-geopolitical zones; geo-political zones should not be used as federating units, among others.
But five months after, the North barely achieved one or two of its agenda, while other zones accomplished more than 70 percent of their interests, leaving the North as a laughing stock.
Before the eyes of Northern delegates, the 774 local government areas, majority of which are in the North, were scrapped. While considering the report of the Politics and Governance committee co-chaired by Prof. Jerry Gana and Chief Olu Falae, the conference adopted what it said was “a true federal structure with the states operating as federating units.”
It also resolved that “creation of local government councils should be done by the states as they deem necessary.”The delegates also agreed that “the states by law provide for the structure, composition, finance and functions of the local government councils.”
By this, the conference delisted local governments from the constitution, which is a source of revenue for the Northern states, therefore would henceforth, receive no allocation from the Federation Account if this becomes law.
Like the local governments, all other agenda advocated by the region, where defeated.
On the other hand, South-South delegates had their way as the confab scrapped local governments, endorsed state police, left Niger Delta ministry, NNDC and amnesty programme intact, endorsed the abrogation of onshore/offshore dichotomy, and left derivation formula intact.
Also, the region in succeeded in blocking the five percent fund to be established for stabilisation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the North-East in particular and North-west and North-central as well as another five percent for solid minerals development.
Just like the South-south, the South-East craved for one state, but got four of the 18 states recommended by the conference and state police, and the zone is happy that local governments are scrapped.
Though the South-West demand for parliamentary system and geo-political zones as federating units didn’t sail through, they had the last laugh as they got state police, state constitution, additional states, and ensured that local governments are scrapped.
Several factors were at play at the conference which led to the ultimate defeat of the North. Its lack of unity was one as the Middle Belt Forum aligned with the Southern delegates to ensure matters that are detrimental to its corporate interests such local government scrapping are actualised.
Also, ethnicity and religion were key in enabling the onslaught on the North. Most Northern delegates who are from minority ethnic nationalities, abandoned the North (they consider as Hausa- Fulani affair) to align with the South in dealing a heavy blow to the North.
Religion also played a part as most delegates in religious solidarity, formed an alliance with South-South delegates in taking major decisions.
Party affiliations also played out while the conference was taking decisions. Dozens of delegates, who are prominent People Democratic Party chieftains, and were nominated on the platforms of either the federal or state government decided to remain aloof so as not to attract the wrath of their benefactors.
Unlike the South, the North came to the conference in disarray with no specific focus and with pecuniary benefits as the most important elements.
Despite their huge allowances they draw from the conference, the Northern Delegates Forum, found it very difficult to place newspaper advertorials or pay for the hotel venue of their poorly-attended meetings.
“It is a pity that majority of Northern delegates despite their affluence, are bread and butter delegates. Attempt was made for us to contribute some money run our affairs but it was rejected. We like vultures desperately looking for carcasses,” a delegate said.
“You couldn’t that we were finding it difficult to even pay for the venue of our meetings. Throughout the conference, we only placed one newspaper advertorial, which we didn’t even pay for. It is scandalous,” he said.
This was evident that the Northern delegates, during a press conference after the last plenary, couldn’t tell their constituents what they achieved for the region.