Opinion
Should Local Government Councils Be Autonomous?
As citizens worry over the dearth of democracy dividends at the local government councils, the councils claim that lack of autonomy was an impediment to their meeting the expectations of Nigerians at the grassroots.
Our correspondent, Calista Ezeaku and photographer, Dele Obinna sought the views of Nigerians on the thorny issue of granting autonomy to LGAs or not.
Excerpts:
Well, the issue of the Local Government autonomy should not be a matter that people will begin to argue about. This is a thing that is established by law. It is just like somebody using his position to take over something that rightly belongs to the other person.
So the issue of autonomy is not negotiable. And I think that what the States are doing is an infringement, to usurp about 50 per cent of the local government functions and they have made the councils to under perform in their responsibilities as local governments. So I think autonomy should be granted without delay to enable local governments function. The law recognises three tiers of government – Federal, State, and Local Government.
The same authority that established States also established the local governments. Therefore, usurping the functions of the local government at the State level is an abuse of power. And I think the state governments of the nation should be wise enough to know that they have been holding the thing that rightly belongs to their children and it is high time they released it to ensure that development gets to the grass roots.
Delay in the payment of teachers salary was one reasons given that made the State governments to start controlling the local government’s finance, but one thing is that the issue of payment of salaries has not even changed even now that the States have refused to allow local governments run their councils the way it should be.
The workers salaries have not been effective. If you go to records I can assure you that for the past eight months, salaries are paid two weeks after the end of the other month.
There had been no month that State or local governments pay salaries at exactly the end of the month. It is always a carry over which is a replica of what they said was not good.
So, there should be proper separation of power to ensure proper sanity in the system because the state claim to be more decent in terms of administration than the local government. Everything depends on the mindset. Even in the past when allocations were being tampered with, it was not applicable to all the councils. There were still some local governments that had good leaders that were meeting up with the target to ensure that salaries and other duties that were supposed to be within the coffers of the local government were done.
Henry Chikwele Wechie – Business Consultant.
I think local governments should be granted autonomy so that development can get to the grass roots because without financial autonomy it will be very difficult to get development to the grassroots where people will benefit. We have three tiers of government – federal, state and local government. So local government should stand as a pillar of its own. It is just like we have separation of powers in the judiciary, executive and legislature. They all have their own functions. So, local government should have its own direct function that will take care of the grassroots. Proper separation of powers will ensure that all the tiers of government will do what they are supposed to do and that will facilitate development.
Hon Chochi Amadi – Common Nigerian
I want to say that the autonomy of local government is a good idea. If local governments should be granted autonomy it will be a welcome idea. But there are some portions of the 1999 constitution that need to be touched to be in line with the autonomy of the local government. By that I mean the local government should be put in check. I think it is from this angle that people are saying no to the autonomy of the local government. But if they put everything together in line of checking, balancing and all that, the autonomy of local government is going to be a welcome one.
While a portion of the 1999 constitution will be amended, it will ensure proper checks and balances in all tiers of government. That will make all of them to perform instead of one tier blaming the other for its low performance. If there is a law backing the functions of the local governments and all that they can do, I think it will be better for all.
So there should be an amendment on how the local government should be run. There should be a touching of how it will be balancing so that the people in the legislature, executive will know what the law is saying on that. That will also direct the state and the federal government.
Mrs Felicia Osasuwa – Health Worker
The local governments should be granted autonomy because it seems as if they are tied in one corner. But if the chairmen are allowed to manage the local governments by themselves, I think they will do better. When you give birth to a child, you allow the child to grow and be on his own. It’s not good that the child stays under his parents forever. When you allow a child to be on his own, that child will do better.
There is this fear that if local governments are granted autonomy, the chairman might misuse the funds of the council. But there are some God-fearing local government chairmen. If you are a God fearing person and public funds are given to you, you will use it well. You will not embezzle it.
Hon. Bernard Uche Enyiche – Business Man / Former Supervisor
I worked with the local government council in 1998 as a supervisor for health. We were autonomous then. At the end of the month, the chairman would go for JAC meeting. Their money came direct to the local government. So it was easy to dispense. Projects were easily arranged, organised and effected.
But this money coming from the Federal Government to the State, it does not make things straight and a lot of things go wrong because we are Nigerians. So the best thing to do is to make the local government autonomous.
I think when it comes to development, it was better when the local governments were autonomous than now because now you are not sure of what comes to local governments. If the money will come direct from federal government, chairmen will know how much they get and what projects to embark on with the money. But this time, the money comes from States, and perhaps they do some deductions I don’t know, because of the payments that are involved. And by the time the money gets to the local governments, you can never be sure of how much until they see their accounts.
So if the local government are autonomous, I think it will be the best for the country.
Mrs Lizzy Samuel – Teacher
I think the issue of local government autonomy would have been ideal if we have honest, sincere and selfless people as chairmen. But unfortunately, the reverse is the case in Nigeria. Our leaders are selfish and self centered. Before now, local governments were autonomous, but instead of paying workers, particularly primary school teachers their salaries, they withheld the salaries, owing teachers for up to seven months. That was how the payment of primary school teachers became the responsibility of the State government, who collects the local government allocations from the Federal Government and deduct our salaries before giving the local government the balance. Since then, we’ve not had the issue of prolonged delay of payment of teachers’ salary. When the local governments chairmen were in charge of teachers salaries, many local government councils were almost dead. The chairmen claimed they had zero allocation after paying workers salaries. But since the State government took up the responsibility of payment of teachers salaries, nobody has heard anything like zero allocation again.
So for the sake of teachers, let the statusquo remain. Let State Governors carry on with the control of local government finances. The local government chairmen claim the money given to them by State Governors after the deductions is not enough for them to execute projects. But the question is, the so called little amount they receive, what do they do with it? Some of them generate huge revenue internally, what do they do with it? Nothing! Many of them are seen at their offices only when the allocations come. They will share the money among themselves and nobody will see them again.
That is why there is no development in many local government councils.
I’m not saying the governors are saints, but at least they make sure that our salaries are paid, so they should carry on.
One of the critical problems confronting Nigeria today is the lack of recognition and appreciation of our tangible heritage, values, and norms – elements that are crucial for fostering social cohesion and responsibility. These values, which are inherently adaptive, can only be transmitted effectively through cultural education.Nigerian food Cultural education involves socialising individuals into the norms, values, and heritage of a given society through mediums such as folktales. Its primary intent is to nurture socially responsible and morally upright individuals who contribute positively to their community. In essence, cultural education is a learned behavioral pattern shared and transmitted from one generation to another. It encompasses customs, traditions, beliefs, arts, and philosophies of life. As Babs Fafunwa (1994) observed, every society, regardless of its size, has its unique ways of transmitting its cultural heritage.
Cultural education plays a vital role in shaping a child’s character and physical skills. Cultural education also has unique ways of instilling respect for elders and authority in the child. In addition, cultural education helps in developing intellectual abilities, fostering a sense of belonging, and promoting active participation in family and community affairs. This concept also cultivates a healthy attitude towards honest labour while it also helps to preserve the community’s cultural heritage. However, since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the infiltration of foreign cultures, technological advancements, religious beliefs, and political systems have significantly helped in the erosion of the country’s social fabric. Today, Nigeria grapples with the loss of cultural values in more ways than one. The country also grapples with moral laxity among youths, violence, delinquent behaviours as well as the disruption of traditional political systems.
Beyond these, lack of cultural education has also triggered a decline in political will among the country’s citizenry. Thus, social issues such as sex abuse, prostitution, drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, internet fraud (which are more commonly known as 419); cybercrime, militancy, armed robbery, and examination malpractice have become rampant. However, these challenges can be mitigated through the promotion and sustenance of cultural education in Nigeria. Bringing cultural education forward in the country’s socio-political and economic systems would go a long way in redirecting the citizenry from the identified social ills. For instance, cultural socialization teaches children the proper ways to greet elders and interact respectfully. Observing parents during ceremonies are also a way to achieving this. Ceremonies such as weddings, child-naming, or funerals help children learn appropriate behaviour at such and sundry ceremonies, and decorum. Unfortunately, many youths today lack respect for elders and are antagonistic to cultural values. Instead, they are influenced by foreign films, contents and literature which often glorify disrespect to our culture; violence and weapon use. As a result, some have become political thugs, religious extremists or armed robbers. They now pose a severe threat to Nigeria’s national survival.
Furthermore, exposure to undesirable foreign cultures has led to extensive moral degradation which manifest in ways such as drug abuse, prostitution, theft, and internet fraud. Dressing among Nigerian youths is another concern. Many young people disregard their cultural heritage and show utmost disdain for their geographical environment. For example, some young women wear clothing that leaves vital parts of their bodies exposed, while young men adopt unkempt appearances, including sagging their trousers and leaving their shirts unbuttoned. There are also instances of unfastened shoelaces. These issues can be addressed through family-based cultural socialisation, where parents play a critical role in imparting cultural education. It is therefore recommended that, to address these social ills, the following measures are suggested. The first is that there should be ways to incorporate cultural education into the curriculum of our schools. Nigeria’s education system should be reviewed to emphasise cultural education, including the use of indigenous languages for instruction. Cultural elements such as morality, taboos, mores, and folktales should be promoted to shape human behaviour positively.
Another suggestion is that we should indigenise the Nigerian political systems. The political system should incorporate cultural principles and practices specific to Nigeria’s diverse cultural environments. This will encourage greater participation and accountability among political leaders. Thirdly, we must promote local content in media. A ban should be placed on the excessive use of foreign entertainment packages in media houses and on social media. Instead, Nigerian cultural content should be prioritised and promoted to reinforce cultural identity. Also, we must strengthen parental socialisation. Through this, families must embrace parental socialisation as a key method for imparting cultural education. Parents should model cultural values and behaviours to guide their children effectively. Cultural education is very essential for curbing social ills in Nigeria. By integrating it into our education system, political practices and media content, we can foster a society rooted in strong moral values and cultural heritage, thereby ensuring a strong and brighter future for generations to come.
Modupe is Chief Museum Education Officer, National Commission for Museums & Monuments, Osogbo, Osun State.
Veronica Adewole
2027 is sealed for Mr. President. When I say 18 over 18, it means we are going to deliver our 18 local governments to Mr. President.”
Reading the above statement by the governor of Edo State, Mr. Monday Okpebholo, one wonders what the future holds for Nigeria’s democracy. In any true democracy, the power to elect leaders rests solely in the hands of the people. This principle is the foundation of democracy, ensuring that governance is based on the will of the majority rather than the rule of a single individual or a privileged few. Unfortunately, in Nigeria political elites and influential figures attempt to manipulate the electoral process, undermining the will of the citizens. We often hear governors and some other politicians talking tough, boasting of how they would sweep all votes in an election. This practice not only weakens democracy but also fosters corruption, inefficiency, and a disconnect between leadership and the people’s actual needs.
Such statements suggest a predetermined outcome of an election rather than a free and fair electoral process. And in a democratic society such as our, this has several implications. Firstly, there is a threat to free and fair elections. Democracy thrives on competitive, transparent, and credible elections where citizens freely choose their leaders. The claim that all votes will go to one candidate suggests electoral manipulation, coercion, or suppression of opposition. Secondly, it portrays a disregard for voter choice. It is said that in a democracy, the electorates are the kings because they are supposed to have the power to determine who sits on any political seat. But when a governor claims that the votes to be cast in his state in the next two years are already meant for a particular candidate, it suggests that the election result is already determined, it makes voters feel powerless and discouraged to participate in politics.
Statements and actions like Okpobholo’s erode political pluralism. Democracy requires multiple parties competing fairly. Declaring total victory before an election dismisses the role of opposition parties and reduces political competition to a mere formality. The statement also raises concerns about potential election rigging, vote-buying, or manipulation of electoral institutions to favor one candidate, which damages public trust in the democratic system. If there are no plans to commit these electoral offences, how possible is it that all the numerous opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which just handed over power to the ruling party in Edo State will not win even a single local government area?
This idea of a government in power winning elections at all cost and making elections in Nigeria less competitive and predetermined outcomes is the reason institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), judiciary, and security agencies are seen as compromised.
This, no doubt, weakens our democracy. Another implication of Okpobholo’s rhetoric is that it can provoke political unrest, resistance from opposition parties, and loss of faith in democratic processes, leading to increased instability and potential conflicts. Nigeria is already soaked with too much political and economic tensions and cannot afford to have more due to the selfish interest of a few individuals. Another troubling trend is the growing influence of governors, party leaders, and other politicians in handpicking candidates for elections. Instead of allowing a free and fair process where citizens decide, these power brokers often impose their preferred candidates, who may not necessarily represent the interests of the people. Such interference leads to a leadership that is accountable not to the electorate but to the few individuals who orchestrated their rise to power.
Have we not seen enough of this in display where elected lawmakers both on the federal and state levels would choose to do the biddings of their masters in the executive arm of government over the interest of Nigerians who elected them? Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo while speaking on the failure of democracy in Africa recently aptly defined what we currently have in Nigeria thus, “Today we have democracy which is government of the people, of a small number of people, by a small number of people over a large number of people who are deprived of what they need to have in life.” Some people have come heavily on the former president and the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi who shared the same sentiment for daring to criticize the present-day practice of democracy in Nigeria when in their days in offices some of their actions accountable and effective leadership.
Additionally, the legal framework governing elections should be strengthened to ensure transparency. INEC and the states’ electoral umpire free from political interference, must oversee the entire process, guaranteeing that every vote counts and that the people’s choices are respected. Political parties should also be mandated to conduct primaries that genuinely reflect the will of their members, rather than serving as a mere formality for predetermined outcomes.Our elected leaders across board should be advised to face governance and deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians who put them in office instead of politicking all the time. It is about two years to the next general elections and the major preoccupation of the leaders seems to be plans and scheming of how to come back in office in 2027 instead of dealing with economic, insecurity, unemployment and other challenges facing the country. How can Nigeria move forward like that?
Calista Ezeaku
Look before you leap”, is one of the wise sayings that over the years I have been emotionally attached to. It means so much to me because the debilitating consequences of unguided actions are better imagined than experienced. “Look before you Leap” teaches me to be thoughtful, articulate, discreet dispassionate and solicit for advice of the experienced and reasonable people where necessary. I have seen people reveal their stark ignorance because they took decisions rashly and without considering the implications of their actions or inactions, only to say, “had I known” which is an euphemism for failure. It has therefore, become necessary to “look before you leap”. Rehoboam, son of Bible’s King Solomon lost 10 of a 12-tribe kingdom of lsrael to Jeroboam. The negative consequences of lack of conscientious and enlightened guide before taking action has landed many to avoidable regrets.
Thoughtless actions happen every day and they are evidenced in the unpleasant outcomes of such decision. In 2024, a Federal High Court, Abuja sacked 20 Cross River State House of Assembly members which serves as an object lesson for thoughtless Lawmakers’ and elected representatives who want to defect from the party on whose platform they were elected to a preferred political party, whether the choice was based on sound judgement, ignorance or pecuniary gains. The Electoral Act is unambiguous and crystal clear so does not make judicial interpretation necessary, on the ground for an elected representative to leave his or her political party for a preferred one either by inducement, anticipated pecuniary benefits or blind loyalty.And the sublime reason must be premised on irreconcilable crisis in the political party of those elected who want to decamp or cross-carpet
Recall that on Monday March 18, 2024 a Federal High Court in Abuja sacked 20 members of the Cross River State House of Assembly. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had instituted a suit against the lawmakers over their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ruling on the case marked “FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 , Taiwo Taiwo, the presiding judge, held that the lawmakers should vacate their seats, having abandoned the political party that sponsored them to power. The affected lawmakers are: Michael Etaba, Legor Idagbor, Eteng Jonah William, Joseph A. Bassey, Odey Peter Agbe, Okon E. Ephraim, Regina L. Anyogo, Matthew S. Olory, Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, Ogbor Ogbor Udop and Ekpe Charles Okon.Others are Hillary Ekpang Bisong, Francis B. Asuquo, Elvert Ayambem, Davis Etta, Sunday U. Achunekan, Cynthia Nkasi, Edward Ajang, Chris Nja-Mbu Ogar and Maria Akwaji.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Assembly, Clerk of the National Assembly, Cross River State House of Assembly, Clerk of the Cross River State House of Assembly and the All Progressives Congress, were also joined as defendants in the suit. Though, in their defence, the lawmakers argued that there was rancour in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),which led to their expulsion from the party, the judge held that the defendants had intentions to mislead the court. He said he found gaps and loopholes in their defence as they tried to twist events to suit their own narratives.”They wined and dined under the umbrella of the plaintiff who also gave them shelter,” he said Taiwo noted that they not only defected loudly, “they took pictures of their defection and were received by the officials of the 26th defendant”.
“There is no doubt that the defendants can belong to or join any political association and assembly as they are free to do so,” he ruled. “I consider the attempts of the 6th – 25th defendants to justify their defection feeble in the circumstances of this case.” Taiwo said the public voted for the lawmakers through the plaintiff who sponsored them and they were not elected as independent candidates.”They had a vehicle which conveyed them and that vehicle belongs to the plaintiff. They cannot abandon the vehicle,” he held. Justice Taiwo’s judgment and several other judgments on thoughtless defections should have been a basis, landmark and precedent to determine whether the 27 Rivers State House of Assembly members elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have the locus to publicly decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and still retain their seats in the House as elected and honourable members of the House as declared by the Supreme Court in its Judgment on consolidated suits on the political crisis in Rivers State.
The judgment of the “learned” justices of the Supreme Court on the 27 defectors is a bitter pill to swallow. It is however, not a surprise because the aroma of the fart tells the substance of the poo. The wise man learns from the experiences of others and history. History repeats itself because people have refused to come to understanding. They are close-ended in learning. The essence of history is to avoid a reinvent of the negative past, use the ugly past to reconstruct the future. Legislators are elected to represent constituency consisting of people of all walks of life. They should rather strive to serve the people, solicit the consent of popular opinions on critical issues rather than serving their selfish interests. Those elected should see themselves as stewards and as stewards they are accountable to the people and God, not their political godfather.
It is high time our political leaders knew that the legitimacy of their positions is derived from the magnanimity of the people. They should therefore not take decisions without taking into cognisance the interest of the people they are representing, through intentional consultation.
By: Igbiki Benibo