The lawmaker representing Benue South Senatorial District at the National Assembly and Chairman of the Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Abba Moro, has reiterated the need for Local Government autonomy, as a key to unlocking the potentials at the grassroot level.
The Senator was speaking at a stakeholders conference on Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs held on Tuesday in Abuja.
Moro, who is a former chairman of Okpokwu local government in Benue state, noted that local governments in previous years had unfettered access to its resources, especially funds, but recent development in the relationship between the states and the local governments had become worrisome.
“Unfortunately, but not surprising, the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has maintained a very dangerous silence in the face of the emasculation of the local governments in Nigeria,” he said.
The lawmaker added: “I sponsored one of the bills on local government autonomy that was rejected by the states, but I can assure you that as long as I remain in the National Assembly, I will continue to return that Bill to the front burners of discourse”.
Similarly, the Chairman, House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, Akin Alabi, noted that less than half of the members of the lower Chambers would be returning, as they were unable to keep pace with the executive arm in delivering projects and progammes that would benefit those at the grassroot level.
He explained that unlike other Bills, constitutional ammendments like the type necessary to grant autonomy to the local government, required the approval of two-third of the states in the country.
“After we passed it (the Bill) at the National Assembly, a lot of governors sat on it, including the governor of my state, Oyo State, and the State Assemblies could not do anything,” Alabi said.
He stressed that the Local Government was the most important arm of government and the sooner they are empowered, the faster development will get to the grassroots.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that with more engagement and sensitisation at the local government level, the bill for Local Government autonomy if repassed by the 10th Assembly, would gain more acceptance and invariably achieve the desired result.
The theme of the conference was: “Harnessing grassroots potentials for service delivery and for sustainable national development: the proper place of local government administration and Inter-Governmental relations”.