By Ochiaka Ugwu
A Non-governmental Organization (NGO), Democracy Vanguard has sought collaboration of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council in increasing advocacy for financial independence for Local Government Councils in Nigeria.
Speaking during a courtesy call on NUJ office in Utako Thursday, leader of the group, Sen. Bala A. Adamu urged Journalists to join the national advocacy to grant financial independence to the local government and ensure that the right quality of Nigerians are attracted to take over the leadership at the grass root for real development.
Adamu who came with delegation of Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) maintained that chairmen and councilors to the local government offices should be enlightened individuals who would manage the human and financial resources of their respective areas for national development.
Adamu, a lawmaker who represented Taraba North Senatorial District in the Senate between 1999 – 2003, said it was difficult for him to reconcile the jumbo pay for legislators.
He said that lawmakers who served between 1999 to 2003 made a lot of sacrifices for the nation even though they were not understood.
Senator Adamu said this when he led a delegation of the Vanguard of Democracy and the Partnership to Engage Reform and Learning (PERL) to the Nigeria Union of Journalists for advocacy on bills that would advance Nigeria.
He maintained that the early legislators in the 4th Republic were prudent and patriotic only to become Guinea pigs of legislative jumbo pay.
His words: “We came in 1999 institutions were all new. After the military interregnum they return to democracy. So the newly elected National Assembly was in place. The President Olusegun Obasanjo was in place with the Vice President and the judiciary.
“When we came, the revenue mobilization and fiscal commission was not constituted. So we were being paid a salary of 14,950 Naira, as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
“There were no real allowances at that time. We were allowed some staffs, 11 per senator for our constituency, office, as well as the office in the National Assembly, they were obviously paid less.
“They were remunerated by the government, lesser than what definitively
Responding to coalition for Democratic advancement in Nigeria, Chairman of Council, Comrade Ogbeche said it was important to interrogate the quality of representatives of the people at all levels.
He pointed out that it was curious for a place like the FCT to have former chairmen of Councils but became representatives at the Federal House and move a motion.
He said the call for advocacy to improve democracy was also connected to producing qualitative aspirants to populate the gamut of candidates that would be fielded for popular choice of the people.
He emphasized on the need for education of the electorate to be able to identify and canvass support for a quality candidate.
