HighlightTop Story

President Buhari backs local government autonomy

398

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared his commitment to local government autonomy.

“Apparently, it is corruption that led to the relegation of the local government to the grips of the state government over the years thereby distorting and demeaning the real status of our federalism with regards to devolving governance, he said at a national workshop on anti-corruption, organised by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) .

He was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund, in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr Habiba Lawal.

“The good news is that the disposition of the National Assembly in granting autonomy to this very important tier of government is an indication that we have started already to address the question of restructuring which many Nigerians appear to be clamouring for.

“I and my team are waiting patiently to receive the reports from the state Houses of Assembly so as to do the needful in the event that the current proposal for the review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended ) come to us for consideration and assent.”

The President described the recent passage of the Local Government Autonomy Bill by the National Assembly as an indication that his administration had gradually begun the country’s restructuring .

A once vibrant tier of government, which occasioned development at the grassroots, has gone into oblivion due to obvious reasons.

Former leader Olusegun Obasanjo, last year at an event said not allowing the LGAs to work as well as stealing of their funds from source by states is one of the greatest disservice of all political parties in our democratic experiment.

“I called such fraud, stealing and corruption. It is fraud, it is corruption. They will say they have done something or paid for something for their Local Governments. And when the Local Governments’ money comes, they take it. Who is that chairman that will tell the Governor you have taken our money? You are gone,” he said.

 

 

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Ex-First Lady dies in London

Former First Lady of Delta State and one-time Miss Nigeria, Mrs Edna...

Pilgrimage tragedy: 58-year-old magistrate passes away on return from Jerusalem

A devastating tragedy befell the Lagos State judiciary as Magistrate Olasanmi Ogunkanmi,...

Diaspora remittances: Nigerians abroad spent N60bln on holiday trips to Nigeria – Dabiri-Erewa

A whopping N60 billion was spent by Nigerians living abroad during their...

Ogun farm murder: Under-30 mother of one fatally attacked gathering vegetables, others for market

A somber mood has settled over the rural community of Ilewo Orile...

Governors’ Forum Gets Presidential Kudos for Backing Sweeping Tax Reform Bills

President Bola Tinubu has expressed his appreciation to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum...

Daring gunmen kidnap ex- AIG’s wife in brazen home invasion

Armed men stormed the house of retired Assistant Inspector General of Police,...

Fake job announcement for Port Harcourt Refinery: NNPCL sets the record straight

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has advised the public...

Banji Lawal takes helm as Southwest Police DIG

The Police Service Commission(PSC) has approved the appointment of Banji Lawal as...

Vandals target Abuja’s power infrastructure, steal TCN cables

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that electricity lines supplying...

Neymar opens up on Mbappé’s jealousy after Messi’s arrival at PSG

Former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Neymar has disclosed that Kylian Mbappé experienced...

Aftermath of Obasa’s impeachment: Lagos Assembly elects new principal officers

The new Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Mojisola...

Tinubu Sets 14-Month Deadline for Abuja-Kano Expressway Completion

President Bola Tinubu has set a 14-month deadline for the completion of...

EU commits €510m to humanitarian aid in Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa

The European Union has unveiled a humanitarian aid package worth €1.9 billion...

Autonomy: FG to disburse allocations directly to 774 councils by January – Presidency

Beginning from January 2025, the 774 local government councils across the country...

Police Service Commission okays female CP Otimenyin for Edo, Dantawaye heads Kogi command

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment of a female...

Breaking: Governors make dramatic u-turn, approve tax reform bills, VAT sharing formula

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has officially endorsed the Federal Government’s tax...

Unpaid C-of-O fees: Wike revokes land allocations of Govs. Uzodimma, Diri, Reps Speaker, senators, 566 others

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, says...

Nigeria Shines as Six Citizens Receive Prestigious US Presidential Award, Tinubu Lauds Awardees

In a remarkable display of intellectual prowess, six Nigerian scientists and engineers...

Pres. Tinubu’s diplomatic efforts yield fruit as UAE President accepts to visit Nigeria

In a major diplomatic achievement, President Bola Tinubu has secured a significant...

Alleged N1.1bln on meals, others: National Assembly dismisses financial mismanagement allegations against JAMB

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has exonerated the Joint Admissions...