July 27, 2024

 

The Senate has accused state governors of undermining local government autonomy by misappropriating funds allocated to them, declaring that the local government system in Nigeria is virtually non-functional. This assertion was made during a session where the Senate called for urgent action to restore autonomy to local government councils.

In a motion sponsored by Senator Suleiman Kawu, the Senate highlighted the deterioration of local government autonomy over the years, noting that successive governments have eroded their financial resources and decision-making power. The Senate urged President Bola Tinubu to lead efforts to ensure full autonomy for local governments and called for an immediate halt to the allocation of funds to caretaker committee-led local government areas.

The motion underscored the critical role of local governments in grassroots development, emphasizing their potential to address community needs directly. It cited examples of past initiatives in Lagos State under President Tinubu and in Akwa-Ibom State under Senator Godswill Akpabio, which aimed to strengthen local governance and service delivery.

During the debate, senators expressed concerns over the lack of local government elections in some states for extended periods, highlighting the need for constitutional amendments to restore democratic values. They also emphasized the importance of returning 100% of local government funds to the councils and improving the capacity of local government officials.

Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau lamented the dire state of local governments in Nigeria, accusing governors of misappropriating funds and stifling their autonomy. He acknowledged the few governors who uphold proper governance but called for widespread reforms to revive local governance across the country.

The Senate’s resolution signals a push for significant reforms to empower local governments and ensure their effective functioning in addressing community needs and promoting grassroots development.

4 thoughts on “Senate Blames Governors for Local Government Crisis, Calls for Autonomy

  1. This article was incredibly insightful! I was captivated by the thoroughness of the information and the clear, engaging way it was delivered. The depth of research and expertise evident in this post is remarkable, significantly elevating the content’s quality. The insights in the opening and concluding sections were particularly compelling, sparking some ideas and questions I hope you will explore in future articles. If there are any additional resources for further exploration on this topic, I would love to delve into them. Thank you for sharing your expertise and enriching our understanding of this subject. I felt compelled to comment immediately after reading due to the exceptional quality of this piece. Keep up the fantastic work—I’ll definitely be returning for more updates. Your dedication to crafting such an excellent article is highly appreciated!

  2. Simply wish to say your article is as amazing The clearness in your post is just nice and i could assume youre an expert on this subject Well with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *