Democracy in Nigeria today, is no longer peoples oriented as opined by the progenitors of this concept; rather, what we have now is AUTOCRACY where only the few enjoy the dividends through the workforce of the majority and amass wealth for their selfish interest and personal gain.
Few months back, there was much ado about the establishment of additional 37 LCDAs by Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State as the development was greeted with mixed reactions.
While many argued that, the establishment of such would only further impoverish the state owing to the fact that the existing 20 Local Government Authority were inadequately funded, government hinged its claim on bringing development to the grassroot.
Though, the intention of Governor Amosun was political, but of course, bringing government to the doorstep of the people will aid development, no doubt about that, our fear of the LCDAs is inadequate funding in this situation that the state government has taken over the Local Government account all in the name of Single Treasury Joint Account. I make bold to say that, such move was a ruse and will only hamper the activities of the Local government.
A local government is a local administration under which local communities are organized to maintain law and order. It is also defined as a non-self governing body set up by an act of Parliament, a decree, or by the Constitution to administer a territory or a political entity for the benefit of a stronger government which normally cannot or does not want to rule the area directly.
Local Governments have been described as “the strength of free nations” because of their effective control of Local affairs for the good of all.
Local Government in traditional Nigerian political systems was established through the instrumentalities of traditional authorities. These were Emirs, Obas, Chiefs, Age-grades and Council of elders. It was the societal interaction of these traditional political institutions that authoritative allocation of values were made for the society. With the advent of British colonial rule in Nigeria, the chieftaincy institutions were involved in the system of Local government called the indirect rule.
Indirect rule is a system of government in which the British ruled the people through traditional rulers according to the native laws and customs. When the indirect rule collapsed due to the Aba women riot in 1929, local government after the civil war underwent reforms in Nigeria.
The Eastern (East Central and South-eastern states) and Mid-Western states adopted a one-tier local government system called Divisional Councils. In the local divisions, emphasis was placed on decentralization, democratization, efficiency and effectiveness of the councils.
However, as the Federal military government prepared to hand over power to civilians, it reformed the local government system throughout the country in 1976. It recognized local governments as the third tier of government.
The 1976 reform was intended to stimulate democratic self-government and to encourage initiative and leadership potential and enshrine the principle of political responsibility. But today in Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration doesn’t give a damn to the existence of Local government authority.
Instead of empowering the 20 local governments with their respective allocations to effectively discharge its obligation to the people, the APC administration in Ogun State has crippled the LG with inadequate fund, but created additional 37 LCDAs to serve his selfish objectives.
With such inappropriate establishment, one begin to wonder how the governor will finance them considering the low income of Federal allocation for local government.
Even in the face of the global economy doldrums which Nigeria is not an exception to, definitely such effect will take its toll on federal allocation to State governments down to local government, that is why local government administrators have been constitutionally empowered to generate revenue to execute its projects.
Local governments in Nigeria derive their revenue from internally generated revenue, statutory allocation from states, constitutional allocation from the federal government account, grants, donations and advances from banks.
Part of the internally generated revenue of the local government include; rates imposed on the use of specific items whether individually or government owned. These rates include water rate, tenement rate, capitation rate and motorcycle rate.
Another means of generating fund by the local government to remain independent is motor Park and stallage fees. Others include, registration of births, marriages, deaths and house numbering. But today, Governor Amosun in his megalomania style of leadership overthrew the responsibility of the local government and rendered them stagnant and under performing
The motor Park fees is now being collected by the governor’s political thug, Mr. Akeem Adeosun a.k.a Jango, while house numbering and signages fee collection is now being handled by a private agency connected to the governor.
Little wonder the rural settlers are deprived of the basic amenities expected from the local government such as, road maintenance, refuse clearing, provision of portable water like borehole, environmental sanitation, public enlightenment on new government policies, provision of health facilities, job creation, provision of primary education among others.
Infact, allocation from both federal government account and state government as approved by the State House of Assembly are now allegedly being controlled by Mr. Governor himself.
Though, one valid claim from one of the Governor’s aides was that, there were allegations and counter allegations on the local government leadership ranging from financial misappropriation, under performance and financial embezzlement, but one critical question the good people of Ogun State should ask Mr. Governor or any of his spokespersons is that, why is it that the Federal government has not taken over the affairs of the state despite allegations of corruption, misplaced priority projects? Why is Ogun State Government taking over LG activities in Ogun?
Another heart pondering issue on the shredded part of the LG is the issue of local government elections. One of the basic features of the 1976 local government reform in Nigeria is tenure of office.
The local government councilors are to be elected on a three-year basis. The normal life of a local government Council is also three years, although, the governor of a state could order the dissolution of the council if found incapable of discharging its functions effectively. The Governor may appoint a caretaker committee pending a fresh election. But after one year in office and the dissolution of the local government caretaker committee across the 20 functional Council areas, no plan as it is by the state government to conduct an election into the council areas.
The Governor’s decision of not conducting local government election in the state maybe connected to public outcry over the failed promises and hardship inflicted on the people by the APC government in the state, hence, the fear of losing the council areas to oppositions in the state remain the beginning of wisdom for the governor.
However, the constitution remains the grundnom for governance in Nigeria, and many informed political analysts are of the opinion that the Governor Ibikunle Amosu led regime cannot afford to run foul of constitutional provisions on tenure of caretaker executives at the local government and as such must prepare to hold elections soonest in consonance with extant constitutional provisions.