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| Dogara |
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Wednesday explained
that the House was working to grant financial autonomy to local
governments in the ongoing constitution alteration exercise as that was
the only way to guarantee development at the grassroot.
The speaker also charged local government workers to step up agitation for local government autonomy, saying only through their individual and collective efforts would the desired change be achieved.Dogara gave the explanations when he received the National Executive members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), who paid him a courtesy visit yesterday in AbujaHe noted that no progress could be achieved in the Local government if the present status quo of interference and administration by state governors was retained, adding that local governments must be financially and politically autonomous to trigger development in the rural areas. According to him, “It is a responsibility all of us owe to our people. As a matter of fact, we are not even doing it for you, we are doing it for the Nigerian people. And the way local government administration is in Nigeria, I must say it is truly a stab on the conscience of every true democrat
“It doesn’t matter whether you are the president, if you are a senator, a member of the House of Representatives, a leader of any of these institutions or in the judiciary”.
Dogara stated that, some governors who opposed local government autonomy were of the view that local governments would collapse if their administration was handed over to the elected chairmen.
However, the speaker argued that state governors would have “extricated themselves from blame if they let local governments free.”
He added that progress can never be gotten by maintaining the status quo, and the House had chosen to ensure that the ongoing Constitution Amendment exercise captures the yearning of millions of Nigerians, for development in the grassroots.
According to him, “For us as representatives of the people, we have heard the cry of the people and we know that the only way we can add value to local government is by giving them political and financial independence. This will expand opportunities in the grassroots.”
Earlier, the National president of NULGE, Ibrahim Khaleel, who led the delegation had commended the Speaker for leading the campaign and advocacy for local government autonomy, and described him as a patriot and statesman.
He called on the speaker to ensure that the ongoing Constitution Amendment captured local government autonomy. He also added that he should involve all stakeholders that could bring it to fruition, including President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said was in the best position to ensure that governors stopped the violation of the constitutionally provided roles of local government officials.
Khaleel appealed to the Speaker to pass their agitation to President Muhammadu Buhari whom they said, “is in the best position to rally for the support of state governors”.
According to him, “You have the capacity as speaker of this House, together with your team, to make Mr President understand that it is him and only him that can change the situation. No amount of agitation or campaign can change the minds of the governors. When he calls the governors and speakers of the House of Assembly, he can make the difference.”
Read more at: Tribune News
The speaker also charged local government workers to step up agitation for local government autonomy, saying only through their individual and collective efforts would the desired change be achieved.Dogara gave the explanations when he received the National Executive members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), who paid him a courtesy visit yesterday in AbujaHe noted that no progress could be achieved in the Local government if the present status quo of interference and administration by state governors was retained, adding that local governments must be financially and politically autonomous to trigger development in the rural areas. According to him, “It is a responsibility all of us owe to our people. As a matter of fact, we are not even doing it for you, we are doing it for the Nigerian people. And the way local government administration is in Nigeria, I must say it is truly a stab on the conscience of every true democrat
“It doesn’t matter whether you are the president, if you are a senator, a member of the House of Representatives, a leader of any of these institutions or in the judiciary”.
Dogara stated that, some governors who opposed local government autonomy were of the view that local governments would collapse if their administration was handed over to the elected chairmen.
However, the speaker argued that state governors would have “extricated themselves from blame if they let local governments free.”
He added that progress can never be gotten by maintaining the status quo, and the House had chosen to ensure that the ongoing Constitution Amendment exercise captures the yearning of millions of Nigerians, for development in the grassroots.
According to him, “For us as representatives of the people, we have heard the cry of the people and we know that the only way we can add value to local government is by giving them political and financial independence. This will expand opportunities in the grassroots.”
Earlier, the National president of NULGE, Ibrahim Khaleel, who led the delegation had commended the Speaker for leading the campaign and advocacy for local government autonomy, and described him as a patriot and statesman.
He called on the speaker to ensure that the ongoing Constitution Amendment captured local government autonomy. He also added that he should involve all stakeholders that could bring it to fruition, including President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said was in the best position to ensure that governors stopped the violation of the constitutionally provided roles of local government officials.
Khaleel appealed to the Speaker to pass their agitation to President Muhammadu Buhari whom they said, “is in the best position to rally for the support of state governors”.
According to him, “You have the capacity as speaker of this House, together with your team, to make Mr President understand that it is him and only him that can change the situation. No amount of agitation or campaign can change the minds of the governors. When he calls the governors and speakers of the House of Assembly, he can make the difference.”
Read more at: Tribune News
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