From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Executive Director Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul on Thursday in Lokoja described the passage of Local Government autonomy Bill at Kogi Assembly as a triumph for grassroots development.
Comrade Abdul who made this remarks in a press release made available to Journalists in Lokoja said the passage of the bill is a sign of relief for Local Government workers and the people at the grassroots.
“The local government is another tier of government and Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution states that there shall be democratically elected local government councils in Nigeria”.
“It is the prerogative of the legislators to amend the Law as dictated to by the relevant constitutional provisions of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He pointed out that Since 1999, efforts have been made by National Assembly to give Local Government Autonomy and free the LGA from the notorious and fraudulent joint accounts been monopolized across the country by the state government and governors.
The monopolization of the local government joint accounts by governors, according to him has hindered the much desire development at the grassroots.
Comrade Abdul attributed the rising wave of insecurity in the country today to underdevelopment at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director stressed that efforts by the National Assembly to give Local Government Autonomy was not successful due to the facts that two-third of the State Houses of Assembly need to pass it into Law.
” With the Kogi State House of Assembly taken the lead by passing this-all important Local Government autonomy Bill, there is already relief beckoning on the local government staff and people at the grassroots”. He said
He therefore called on other State Houses of Assembly across the country to emulate the Kogi State example and free the Local Government from under-development by passing the Bill within the shortest possible time.
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