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Justina Otio
Guest
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has stated that inadequate funding is one of the major issues hindering local government autonomy in Nigeria.
Abbas shared his concerns at a National Dialogue on Local Government Reform and Constitutional Amendment in Abuja.
Represented by Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the lawmaker emphasized that local governments are often financially constrained, affecting their ability to provide essential services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
He stated, “Local governments often operate on budgets that are insufficient to meet their responsibilities. This financial constraint limits their ability to deliver essential services such as education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and sanitation.”
Highlighting the need for autonomy, Abbas said, “Local governments must operate with a degree of autonomy that allows them to respond promptly and appropriately to the unique needs of their communities.”
Speaker Abbas Slams LG Elections Across States As ‘Disgraceful’
Meanwhile, Tajudeen, has condemned the conduct of local government elections across Nigerian states, calling them a “disgrace.”
He expressed disappointment that, despite the intentions of the constitution’s framers to create an effective local government system, numerous challenges continue to hinder their effectiveness.
He highlighted issues such as inadequate funding, lack of autonomy, interference by other levels of government, and corruption, which have plagued local councils for years
Abbas emphasized that the poor quality of local government elections, where ruling parties often dominate and sweep all positions, demonstrates a serious flaw in the democratic process.
He stressed the urgent need for reform, urging that local government elections be conducted with transparency, fairness, and integrity.
The Speaker said, “One of the most pressing issues we must deal with, is the poor quality of elections in local government councils across our states.
“This situation not only undermines the very essence of democracy but also raises serious concerns about the integrity and functionality of our local governance structures.
“When elections are characterised by a lack of competitiveness—wherein the ruling party sweeps all positions—it becomes evident that we are witnessing a mockery of democratic principles.
“This scenario is not merely an embarrassment; it poses a significant threat to our democracy. It fosters an environment where undesirable elements infiltrate these councils, often lacking the necessary capacity and vision to govern effectively.
“Consequently, local governments become mere appendages of state governments or pawns in the hands of so-called godfathers who manipulate political outcomes for their own gain.
“Importantly, we must confront the disgraceful poor conduct of elections in the councils. We must find a way of instilling transparency, fairness and openness in the conduct of elections into local governments.
“Doing this would require the understanding and collaborative efforts of the State governors and Houses of Assembly. We must find a way of convincing them that a strengthened local government system would relieve the States of unnecessary burdens and lead to grassroots development.”
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