THE
ongoing agitation for local government autonomy in the country
by the
National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, yesterday, got a boost
as
senators threw their weight behind the clamour.
According to
them, granting autonomy to local
governments would help sustain democracy, and
free the councils from economic strangulation
by state governors.
Speaking to Vanguard, Deputy Senate
Minority leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, said:
“Local government autonomy would have been the best thing to have
happened to this country ,but the states will always frustrate it because
of the monumental fraud that take
place there.’’
Also, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, PDP Delta North, said that
autonomy will allow the councils to
pay salaries and foot their various
bills.“They should have autonomy and I
support it because we are in a situation where local governments can’t pay
salaries and can’t foot a single bill.
The state assembly can still oversight
them if they have autonomy like what we
have at the national level. So the local government should be granted autonomy.” Sen Adesoji Akanbi,
APC Oyo South, said: “I have been a
promoter and advocate of local
government autonomy.
But before that can be granted, there must be an amendment
of the constitution to empower the Independent
National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the only body to conduct local
government elections.
Vanguardngr reported that Senator Tayo Alasoadura, APC Ondo Central, concurred,
saying: “I agree with them. The way some governors misuse local government
funds is really deplorable.”
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