Local government is that tier of government closest to the person, which is vested with certain powers to exercise control over the affairs of people in its domain.
According to the United Nations Division of Public Administration, Local Government is a political sub-division of a nation or state in a federal system which is constituted by law and has substantial control of local affairs, including the powers to impose taxes or use of labour for prescribed purposes. The governing body of such an entity is elected otherwise locally selected.
The third tier of government therefore is expected to play the role of promoting the democratic ideals of a society and coordinating development programme at the local level.
It is also expected to serve as the basis of socio-economic development in Nigeria because local government is a platform that those who have any interest in common, which they do not share with the general body of their countrymen may manage that joint interest by themselves and subsequently ensure representative and responsible government at the grassroot level.
Before the popular nineteen seventy-six Local Government Reform, local government were merely local administration without formal recognition as a tier of government. But the reform led to the codification of local government under section seven of Nigerian nineteen ninety-seven constitution and still takes section seven of the contemporary nineteen ninety-nine constitution.
Giving justification for the nineteen seventy-six Local Government Reform under Muritala/Obasanjo regime, the then Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Major General Shehu Yar’Adua said and I quote “The Local Government suffered continuous whittling down of their powers. The state governments have continued to encroach upon what would normally have been the exclusive preserves of local government, lack of adequate funds and appropriate institution had continued to make local government ineffective and ineffectual.”
Hitherto, local government cannot be said to have justified its establishment and its inevitable importance to the people at the grassroot level as a result of inadequate finance, inadequate skilled workers, poor revenue generation, corruption and maladministration, overstaffing, political instability and interference which in turn hinder autonomy of local government in Nigerian.
Observations have also shown that local government in Nigerian has not performed up to expectation because of wide-scale embezzlement by officials at the grassroots, perceived indiscipline among workers in the third tier of government.
Intrusion in local government affairs by the higher levels of government has contributed in no small measure to ineffectiveness of local government in Nigeria. Examples are abound from across the country where state Governor unconstitutionally dissolves the entire elected council’s officers, and such action therefore hinders smooth administration at grassroots level.
The fact that local government sustain itself based on revenue from federation account and allocation from state government as well as grant and subsidies form the higher authority make local government susceptible to undue influence.
To ensure that local government complement the effort of both central and state governments in Nigeria, the third tier of government should be allowed to actually fill the envious position as recognized by the nineteen ninety-nine constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Local government council should also be alive to its responsibilities by performing its statutory duties with a view to making local government serves as bedrock for national development as well as veritable ground to training future national leaders.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
ELECTORAL REFORM AND FUTURE OF NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY
While taking over the mantle of leadership of this great country in two thousand and seven, President Umaru Yar’adua admitted that his election was characterized with flaws. Thus, he immediately inaugurated a twenty-two man Electoral Reform Panel, headed by a former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mohammed Uwais, to carry out a comprehensive review of the country’s electoral system.
Inaugurating the Panel, President Yar’adua tasked the committee to work out a process that would enable the conduct of elections to meet acceptable international standard and make the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) truly independent in name and deed with a view to imbuing it with administrative and financial autonomy and a mechanism to reduce post-election tensions. This is by ensuring the resolution of election disputes before the inauguration of elected officials.
To meet the targets set up by the President and the entire citizenry with respect to elections in Nigeria , the Panel which had notable Nigerians toured the entire country to demand the inputs of Nigerians to electoral reform.
Undoubtedly, the Panel examined the electoral systems relevant to Nigeria ’s experience and best practices that will impact positively on the quality and credibility of the nation’s electoral process.
Hundreds of memoranda were received in which many called for a two-party system, adoption of option A4, using National Identity card for voting, suspension of the swearing-in of elected officers whose victory is being challenged in the tribunal and introduction of independent candidates to enable persons not interested in any political party seek elective positions.
As expected, the Panel submitted its report to the President and subsequently, electoral related bills are now before the two chambers of the National Assembly with a view to reviewing the two thousand and six electoral act and relevant sections of the nineteen ninety-nine constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
To this end, the Senate last week began a remarkable move with the approval of independent candidates in the next general elections. During a clause by clause consideration of the electoral bill, the Senate approved the amendment to section sixty-five of the constitution to pave the way for the emergence of independent candidates.
Series of amendments were also passed bordering on issues that will ensure the sanctity of the vote of the people, by ensuring more electoral transparency and also making sure that the Independent National Electoral Commission is truly independent. With the amendments, Persons willing to become the President or state Governor must be a graduate.
Speaking on the development, the Senate President, David Mark expressed confidence that the amendments would be replicated in the House of Representatives and in the thirty-six state Houses of Assembly.
Well, the actions of the Lawmakers are commendable, but all other impediments to credible, free and fair elections must be critically examined.
Nigeria , the giant of Africa , must do everything humanly possible to conduct free and transparent elections for others to emulate.
Inaugurating the Panel, President Yar’adua tasked the committee to work out a process that would enable the conduct of elections to meet acceptable international standard and make the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) truly independent in name and deed with a view to imbuing it with administrative and financial autonomy and a mechanism to reduce post-election tensions. This is by ensuring the resolution of election disputes before the inauguration of elected officials.
To meet the targets set up by the President and the entire citizenry with respect to elections in Nigeria , the Panel which had notable Nigerians toured the entire country to demand the inputs of Nigerians to electoral reform.
Undoubtedly, the Panel examined the electoral systems relevant to Nigeria ’s experience and best practices that will impact positively on the quality and credibility of the nation’s electoral process.
Hundreds of memoranda were received in which many called for a two-party system, adoption of option A4, using National Identity card for voting, suspension of the swearing-in of elected officers whose victory is being challenged in the tribunal and introduction of independent candidates to enable persons not interested in any political party seek elective positions.
As expected, the Panel submitted its report to the President and subsequently, electoral related bills are now before the two chambers of the National Assembly with a view to reviewing the two thousand and six electoral act and relevant sections of the nineteen ninety-nine constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
To this end, the Senate last week began a remarkable move with the approval of independent candidates in the next general elections. During a clause by clause consideration of the electoral bill, the Senate approved the amendment to section sixty-five of the constitution to pave the way for the emergence of independent candidates.
Series of amendments were also passed bordering on issues that will ensure the sanctity of the vote of the people, by ensuring more electoral transparency and also making sure that the Independent National Electoral Commission is truly independent. With the amendments, Persons willing to become the President or state Governor must be a graduate.
Speaking on the development, the Senate President, David Mark expressed confidence that the amendments would be replicated in the House of Representatives and in the thirty-six state Houses of Assembly.
Well, the actions of the Lawmakers are commendable, but all other impediments to credible, free and fair elections must be critically examined.
Nigeria , the giant of Africa , must do everything humanly possible to conduct free and transparent elections for others to emulate.
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