Two separate organizations in Kwara state have called on the National Assembly to prioritise local government autonomy in the country.
According to a group concerned with societal value development, the Cultural and Societal Value Development Initiative (CSVDI) and a group of community leaders in the ancient town of Offa, championing local government autonomy, they said that the measure would foster a more accountable and effective local government system capable of driving socio-economic development across the country.
The CSVDI chairman and secretary, Professor Samuel Ibiyemi and Reverend Gabriel Olaoye, respectively, commended the federal government for securing a Supreme Court ruling that grants autonomy to local government councils, also supported a plan by the National Assembly to review the ruling.
Among the key requests outlined in the CSVDI open letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Assembly include the following:
INEC to Conduct All Elections: CSVDI urged that future local government elections be conducted solely by INEC to ensure transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
The organization called for elected local government chairmen and councilors to be sworn in by the judiciary rather than state governors or their representatives, in order to uphold the independence of local councils.
CSVDI stressed the need for local councils to operate without interference from state governments, allowing them to function autonomously.
Additionally, CSVDI advocated for a more defined role for traditional rulers and community development associations in local governance, suggesting that they be included in council membership to enhance grassroots governance.
Also, the group of Offa community leaders, led by the Bobaselu of Offa, Chief Abdullatif Kunle Ajeigbe, in a statement on the outcome of the local government election in Kwara state, advocated for true financial and administrative independence for local councils.
Ajeigbe emphasised that state governors’ control over State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs) allowed them to manipulate local elections and install loyalists, thereby, undermining the integrity of the electoral process.
“True democracy cannot thrive when local elections are subject to manipulation by state governments. This legislative initiative is critical to ensuring free, fair, and credible elections at the grassroots”, he said.
He noted that restructuring would address other critical areas of governance, including ensuring the proper functioning of local governments.
“We bear no malice towards the Kwara State government or any community. Our goal is to ensure fairness, transparency, and effective governance at the grassroots level”.
“The autonomy of local governments is not just a political issue; it is essential to the proper functioning of our democracy and the development of our communities,” Ajeigbe concluded.
The statement comes in the wake of increasing calls for local government reforms across Nigeria, with many advocates hoping the recent Supreme Court ruling will pave the way for a more accountable and transparent governance structure at the grassroots level.
The people, who condemned the recently concluded Kwara State local government elections, highlighted the need for immediate reforms to restore credibility to local governance.
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