United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with the Social Development Integrated Centre (SocialAction), an NGO has sought grassroots inclusion and open budget implementation as well as financial autonomy for Local Government in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press briefing during a one-day citizen and government consultative dialogue on inclusive budgeting for effective service delivery, in Maiduguri on Thursday, the Senior Programs Officer and Project Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Ekpere said, Local Government autonomy will guarantee, development in rural communities, reduce rural urban migration, create more jobs and businesses.
According to him, between 2001 and 2018, N14.7 trillion was disbursed to the 774 local governments in Nigeria, but much of these funds were mismanaged by state governments, while communities wallowed in a total lack of infrastructure and human capital development.
Ekpere who was represented by Borno State CBAC CoordinatorBarr. Ali Izar noted that financial autonomy for local government is essential for effective development at the grassroots.
“The state governors’ stranglehold on local governments is driven by greed and a disregard for democratic laws.
“In the period September to November 2022, Jere local government of Borno State received the sum of N 676.5 million naira, while Konduga local government area also received the sum of N 743. 5 million naira respectively as allocations from the federation account within the same period.
“What about the internally generated revenues they generate and the state’s IGR share to LGAs. It is high time the beam is turned on the LGAs leadership to ask critical questions around our collective resources, as it has not translated into any meaningful development in communities as was revealed by our monitoring of projects by LGAs in the state.”
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 36 state governors and the House of Assemblies to expedite action toward passing the local government autonomy bill into law.
“It is against this backdrop that we have called this press conference to demand the following:”
“That President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Sen, Bola Ahmed Tinubu should, as a matter of Urgency transmit the Local Government Autonomy Bill to the National Assembly (NASS) for passage into Law, and to prevail on the 36 governors of the states to allow the passage of the bill in the state houses of Assemblies”.
“The Borno State Local Government Budget Advocate Committee DEMANDs that the local government be granted full Autonomy to truly function as a tier of Government”.
“That all the LGAS in Bornu State operate an open, inclusive and participatory budget process and lead the way in enthroning transparency and accountability in the utilisation of public resources.
“That the LGAs and all other LGAs in the Country, should as a matter of Urgency carry out needs assessment in communities to address the abject lack of development in far-to-reach areas in Bornu State and Nigeria at large”.
“That the Borno State House of Assembly should as a matter of necessity proceed to enact a law directing all local government in the state to have functional websites, and clear communication channels where community people and others can easily access LGA’s fiscal documents to engage the council leadership and to advocate for development projects for their communities.
“The abolishment of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIC) in all the states in Nigeria, that local government elections be conducted by (INEC).
“The abolishment of the Joint allocation committee between the state and local government, to enable LGAs to receive their allocations directly and be held accountable by the people who elected them to office.”
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