By Stanley Onyekwere
Chairman of Bwari Area Council of the FCT, John Gabaya has reiterated the need for more support to the cry and quest for true autonomy for local governments in the country.
In particular, he called on the State governments all over the country to release their grip against the ideal running of local governments, where local governments are muscled and squeezed into a near state of oblivion.
Gabaya gave this charge yesterday, at the Council Secretariat, during the ongoing study tour of the council by participants of the senior executive course 44, 2022 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.
Represented by the council secretary, Eli Peter, the Chairman said the action of muscling local governments by State Governments is constituting serious hindrances and impediments to the attainment of true democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
According to Gabaya; “The role of local government in the roots and fabrics of good and people oriented governance cannot be overemphasized. It is the government closest to the grassroots, ‘The People.”
“Aside this, local government councils perform a number of unique and indispensable functions, such as: providing services and development activities at the grassroots in response to local wishes and initiatives; facilitate the exercise of democratic self-government close to the grassroots; mobilize the enormous human and material resources at the grassroots for national development; as well as serving as a two-way channel of communication between the grassroots and government at the State and Federal level.
“The present practice whereby local governments councils are muscled and squeezed into a near state of oblivion by States Governments all over the country constitute serious hindrances and impediments to the attainment of true democracy and good governance in Nigeria. In fact, it is a heinous crime against democratic and self-government.
“The voice and the work of this great Institute commands great respect, regards and attention among scholars, policy makers, technocrats, administrators, politicians and people in leadership positions across the nation and beyond.
“I am therefore very excited and hopeful that your study and report at the end of this course and tour will add more weight to the cry and quest for true autonomy for local governments in the country”, he stated.
The Director General of NIPSS, Prof. Ochoche then lead a delegation of the participants to the palaces of HRH, Alhaji Awal Musa Jakuro, Sarakin Bwari and HRH, Danlamin Yaro, the Etsu of Bwari respectively, where the participants asked questions about the role of traditional rulers in administration their subjects, with the view in mind that the have no constitutional role, and how they get their funding.
The traditional rulers responded that the solve the security issues and conflicts between their subjects and asked to be given control over land too.
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