Oyo Assembly declares support for LG autonomy

As State Houses of Assembly are set to receive amendments to the 1999 constitution from the National Assembly, the Oyo House of Assembly has declared support for local government autonomy.

Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo made this stance known while addressing members of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) at the Assembly’s complex.

He premised the Assembly’s stance on its belief that such autonomy will improve government at the grassroots and translate into development of the masses.

Adeyemo assured of transparency in the amendment process through public hearings, adding that state houses of Assembly had set up a technical committee to examine different aspects of the amendment.

Speaking, National President, NULGE, Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, represented by National Treasurer, Akeem Ambali, stated that just like the federal and state government, local government should also be granted unhindered access to their funds.

Ambali, emphasized that local government desired financial, political and administrative autonomy for better functionality.

Also speaking, President of Oyo state chapter of NULGE, Mr Bayo Titilola-Sodo, argued that autonomous local government councils would engender better administration of funds, transparent control over federal allocation and internally generated revenues, translating into smooth payment of salaries.

He however noted that the NULGE would strongly push that payment of teachers as first line charge from the federation account.

Among other prayers were the abolition of State Local Government Joint Allocation Account (JAAC) and State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).

Titilola-Sodo argued that the JAAC which had become a conduit pipe through which the state governments misappropriate and siphon local government funds should be scrapped.

This is just as he called the abolition of SIEC and empowerment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct local government elections that are credible.

Also, he emphasized the union’s call for the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement against appointment of caretaker committees for local government areas and reckless dissolution of elected local government councils.

To enhance the functionality of local government areas, the NULGE also advocated the receipt of 10 percent of the Internally Generated Revenue of state governments.

Furthermore, he noted that the NULGE is pushing for the full observance of fiscal federalism as enshrined in the country’s constitution

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