Saraki throws weight behind LG autonomy

President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has reiterated his support for local government autonomy in the country.

Saraki, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Sanni Onogu, stated this during a visit by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), led by its national president, Comrade Ibrahim Khalil, to Abuja.

He said that the Senate and indeed, the National Assembly appreciate the importance of autonomous governance at the third tier of government and would continue to work towards its realisation.

“The Senate and the National Assembly appreciate the importance of the local government.

“As such, it is very important that we strengthen local government administration” he said. He also said that part of strengthening local government administration is ensuring that there is autonomy.

“I believe that strengthening local government administration means that we do our best to increase the capacity at the local government.

“In developed countries,  those competent to contest at a level, even as high as the Senate, will tell you that they don’t want to be at the federal level but prefer to stay at the local level,” he said.

Saraki told the local government employees that it was important to see that local governments are properly, and independently funded, but added that there must be a symbiotic relationship between the states and the local governments to ensure that the third tier of government was not placed at a disadvantage.

“It is unfortunate that in the last Constitution alteration exercise, we were not successful on this issue. We all have a role to play to strengthen our local government system.

“It is important that we see how local governments can be independent, how local governments can have more autonomy, and governors don’t interfere with what is due to local governments.

“In all of this, there must be a cordial and symbiotic relationship. If we just say that local governments should be on its own, it may have some disadvantages. So, we must look at how we can ensure that local governments have funding without any interference,” Saraki stated.

He also noted that following the last Constitutional Review exercise by the National Assembly, only nine states were in support of local government autonomy, but said he would do more to ensure that further cooperation and collaboration is achieved to rectify the issue.

“I will ensure that we do more to rectify this issue. I am proud to say that Kwara State, is one of those nine states that supported local government autonomy.

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“It will happen. I assure you. We are all in a hurry to see that it happens. The question though, is how soon? I always say that these kinds of things like the Constitutional amendment process, you cannot bully anybody. But you must ensure that there is cooperation and collaboration,” he said.

Earlier, the National President of NULGE, Ibrahim Khalil, lamented that local government administrations in the country have been rendered impotent over the years as a result of undue interference.

“Our visit is to rekindle efforts and bring all hands on deck to ensure that Local Governments become autonomous in this country,” Khalil said.