By Danlami Nmodu
Accolades have been flowing in torrents in the aftermath if Supreme Court Verdict which granted Autonomy to Nigeria’s Local Government Councils.
Recall that the Supreme Court in a landmark judgement ruled that the Federal Government should pay Federation allocations “directly” to accounts of local governments.This has triggered excitement and hope of the liberation of the people from the stranglehold of state governors.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s remarks while welcoming the apex court verdict noted that a fundamental challenge to the nation’s advancement over the years has been ineffective local government administration, as governance at the critical cellular level of socio-political configuration is nearly absent.
According to a statement signed by Presidential Spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu emphasized “that the onus is now on local council leaders to ensure that the broad spectrum of Nigerians living at that level are satisfied that they are benefitting from people-oriented service delivery.”
Tinubu was quoted to have further said”The Renewed Hope Agenda is about the people of this country, at all levels, irrespective of faith, tribe, gender, political affiliation, or any other artificial line they say exists between us. This country belongs to all of us. By virtue of this judgement, our people – especially the poor – will be able to hold their local leaders to account for their actions and inactions. What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses.
“My administration instituted this suit because of our unwavering belief that our people must have relief and today’s judgement will ensure that it will be only those local officials elected by the people that will control the resources of the people. This judgement stands as a resounding affirmation that we can use legitimate means of redress to restructure our country and restructure our economy to make Nigeria a better place to live in and a fairer society for all of our people,” President Tinubu states.”
President Tinubu noted that the provision of some essential amenities and public goods, such as the construction and maintenance of certain roads, streets, street lighting, drains, parks, gardens, open spaces, and other residual responsibilities, including community security, has tottered owing to the emasculation of local governments.
The President affirmed that the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutional rights and ideals of local governments as regards financial autonomy, and other salient principles, is of historic significance and further reinforces the effort to enhance Nigeria’s true federal fabric for the development of the entire nation.
A review of the President’s reaction brings some key issues to sharp focus: that LGs have been hitherto ineffective;the local governments now have the onus henceforth to ensure people are satisfied.Recall the President also said “What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses.”
Highly placed officials have told News Diary Online that government sees this Supreme Court judgement as a wake up call for stakeholders such as labour unions, civil society groups, media. Other elite groups such as socio-cultural organisations like Ohanaeze, Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum and Middle Belt Forum are expected to take the apex court’s verdict very seriously.
Top officials who spoke with this newspaper under condition of anonymity say government expect all these stakeholders to be actively involved in monitoring the activities and finances of the local councils.
“We expect all those who have been attacking the Presidency or the Federal government for lack of facilities in their areas to focus now their attention on the local government areas.”
One official who spoke with News Diary Online expressed frustration over the fact that even labour ignores misconduct at local and state government levels and focuses their vitriol on the Federal government.”We expect the narrative to change going forward”, this official said.
One of the country’s major problems is lack of accountability in the public sector,an activist said.Because of this public funds that are shared among the various tiers of government simply go down the drain.
News Diary Online learnt that some government officials are not happy with labour and civil society because of their alleged lackadaisical approach to the issue accountability at the State levels.
For instance, one insider recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari released money to governors specifically to pay salaries, but the governors did what they wanted with it . In a related manner, even President Tinubu has also released funds to governors in the aftermath if fuel subsidy removal, yet one official said, the governors are not being challenged to tell people what they have done with the funds by Labour and other stakeholders.
There is fear in official circles that labour ignores governors and focuses on Federal government alone.And now with the autonomy granted LG there is the added worry.That is why a top government official told News Diary Online last week: ” Labour should now begin to pay attention so that we don’t fall into the trap of stopping the armed robbers and allowing the pick pocket.We must not allow chairmen to squander the money.
He called on NLC to work with all agencies if government,ICP, EFCC, Police among others so that this new autonomy will work.
There is the need to keep an eye on State Assemblies who may now go on overdrive in the name of oversight functions at local governments.”We all know that most of these lawmakers are practically on holiday allowing governors to have a field day.Oversight duties may be necessary at local level but stakeholders must ensure they are not used to siphon funds”, one concerned insider said.
A further call has also been made to professional bodies like the NUJ, NBA and civil society organisations. “They should pay attention to LGs.Let them.all go home and pay attention.The President recently accused politicians of flocking to Abuja after election” the official recalled.
The advantages of focus on LG range from the fact that they too can give social allowances, scholarships, employment opportunities. They can also purchase and help with better distribution of fertiliser. “All these will require the additional supervision of professional bodies aside from state assembly oversight, which may be lax.”
Another set of stakeholders some presidency sources expect to rise up include the socio cultural groups like the Ohanaeze,ACF, Afenifere and MiddleBelt Forum
“We expect these groups that are always attacking the Federal government to go back to their homes.With this autonomy nobody’s is now dominating them.We need to see this as a starting point on how our Federal arrangement should work.”
Even more there is the expectation within official circles that religious bodies such as JNI,CAN, sermons in churches and Mosques should focus on LGs.”Every mosque and church is located within an LG. In the First Republic, local govts, native authorities were more attractive , effective.We should no longer tolerate primary schools, secondary schools operating under trees”, an official said.
For the Northern part ravaged by poverty, the autonomy should mean a lot more, officials said.
“We should no longer have beggars, Almajiris roaming the streets.Every beggar migrated from one LG.They should go back to their LGs. Even more,local councils should be encouraged to put in place welfare and education support systems, those reviewing the situation said.
There is the hope that the training facilities in institutions, and government agencies focused at training LG officials would be encouraged.
“We expect that elite running around as consultants should be discouraged and the real LG staff be allowed to work for the benefit of the people.”
In all, many believe that all this can only be enhanced if democracy at local government is encouraged through electoral autonomy. Fortunately, the Supreme Court also directed FG to withhold funds of LGs without democratically elected officials.
How this will work out remains to be seen.
