HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EXPRESSES OPTIMISM FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY 02-12-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, says the 10th Assembly is working tirelessly with other stakeholders to secure autonomy for local governments across Nigeria.
Dr. Abbas made this known in Abuja during a National Dialogue on Local Government Autonomy.
For over two decades, there have been agitations for local government autonomy to foster socio-economic development at the grassroots level.
Despite numerous attempts at constitutional amendments, the goal of granting autonomy to local governments has yet to be fully realized.
To address this challenge, the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, organized a National Dialogue aimed at consolidating ideas for robust discourse on the independence of local government administration in Nigeria.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, highlighted the keen interest of stakeholders in achieving local government autonomy.
A former governor of Edo State and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, while declaring his support for local government autonomy, cautioned against potential abuse when autonomy is granted.
The Emir of Lafia, Retired Justice Sidi Bage, stressed that the exclusion of traditional institutions from local government administration had contributed significantly to the setbacks in grassroots governance.
Other speakers at the event noted that local government elections have often failed to reflect the true wishes of the people.
They also pointed out that the absence of autonomy had rendered governance at the grassroots level largely ineffective.