Why local government needs full autonomy

If you want real development to touch down to the local government level, consider its autonomy. I mean realistic autonomy. It is the main panacea for the grassroots revitalisation and exploration of those treasure troves in the 774 councils. LG autonomy strengthens democracy and brings positive developmental projects closer to the people. Most importantly, recruiting […]

If you want real development to touch down to the local government level, consider its autonomy. I mean realistic autonomy. It is the main panacea for the grassroots revitalisation and exploration of those treasure troves in the 774 councils. LG autonomy strengthens democracy and brings positive developmental projects closer to the people.

Most importantly, recruiting leaders who will head LGs should be through an independent body and not appointed by a governor. 

Nigeria has 774 LGAs, and each has an elected chairman as the chief executive and other elected members as councillors who exercise specific powers within their areas.

Unfortunately, they are now being appointed mostly by state governors who are often reluctant to hold even what many have described as sham elections. 

As a matter of fact, development of local government administration in Nigeria took a new dimension since the return of the country to democracy in 1999. 

However, because of lack of autonomy of our LGs, unemployment, poverty and injustice have become entrenched in our rural communities.

As a way out of these problems, I call on the federal government and the National Assembly to make sure local councils are given full autonomy.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be made to conduct elections into local councils in the country.

 

Yusuf Babaji Jalam, Department of Mass Communication, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi