Full autonomy only way to save LGs from paralysis, says Shehu Sani

Full autonomy only way to save LGs from paralysis, says Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani, a former senator that represented Kaduna
central, says local government autonomy is the only way to strengthen
governance at the grassroots and save council areas from paralysis.

Sani spoke in an interview with NAN on Sunday.

 

The federal government recently filed a suit at the supreme
court against governors of the 36 states, seeking full autonomy for local
governments in Nigeria.

 

The federal government is also asking for an order
preventing the governors from arbitrarily dissolving democratically elected
councils.

 

Speaking on the development, Sani said the step by the
federal government has the potential to restore development at the grassroots
and strengthen the local government system.

 

“Local government autonomy is the only way to save the LGs
from bankruptcy and paralysis,” Sani said.

 

“Poverty and insecurity in the country is rooted in the
destruction of the local government system.”

 

Sani said most council chairmen only go to their offices
when federal allocations are released.

 

He said lack of financial and administrative autonomy for
the local government has affected the performance of the third tier of
government.

 

Speaking further, Sani described FG’s proposal that State
Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) should be scrapped as a good move,
adding that scrapping the electoral agency would deepen democracy at the
grassroots.

 

Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation and
minister of justice, had proposed the scrapping of the state commissions.

 

 “The scrapping of
SIECs is a step in the right direction,” Sani said.

 

“It has become impossible for opposition parties to win
elections at the LG level because of the institutional rigging and imposition
of candidates by state governors.

 

“The chairmen of SIECs and staff of SIECs are all agents of
the state governors and of the ruling party in their respective states.”

Source: Full autonomy only way to save LGs from paralysis, says Shehu Sani

 - NigerianEye
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