THE National Assembly is set to grant financial autonomy to local government councils and state Houses of Assembly to reduce alleged influence of governors in their financial management.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, dropped the hint, yesterday, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

He reiterated the resolve of the National Assembly to grant financial autonomy to the 774 local government councils in the country.

Dogara noted that lack of elections at the local government level were crippling democracy and denying the much needed development at the third tier of government.

Dogara said the House under his leadership, was in the process of granting financial autonomy to 36 State Houses of Assembly.

He decried a situation where governors had constituted themselves as middlemen that continuously hijacked funds meant for the councils in the name of joint account, describing the arrangement as “evil”.

Dogara described the existence of caretaker committees manning the affairs of the local government councils in some states as an aberration and illegality which must stop.

He revealed that new clauses might be introduced in the constitutional amendment bill that would not only outlaw caretaker committees but also stop allocation of funds from the federation account to local governments with no democratically elected councils.

As a step to end the alleged illegality perpetrated by state governments, the speaker disclosed that the parliament would consider abolishing States Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs, and empower the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to take over their functions.

source:

www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/nass-wants-financial-autonomy-lgas-state-assemblies/

Most LGA's tend to owe salaries due to the overbearing influence of the presiding governor. Inasmuch as I've never agreed on any issue partaining to NASS,I must say kudos to them on this one.

Even if the Nass grants autonomy to the local govt, there will still be loopholes.

Welcome development Lagos pioneerING common sense. State governments should focus on regulations on state level let elected city leaders Handle the work on the ground level. The funds are less prone to waste that way and the uneven development of states across nation maybe attributed to this phenomenon.

Example how governor Rochas had to much focus on Owerri as Imo citezens complain about.

dingbang:
Even if the Nass grants autonomy to the local govt, there will still be loopholes.

There's always is. There's only a few ways cities operate within state with America. Cities have limited autonomy. The cites are only have authority give to them by their state government. See the Dillon rule.

I mention America because we should reinvent wheel let's just copy model that works and tweak later if issues arise.

Sorce: http://www.nlc.org/build-skills-and-networks/resources/cities-101/city-powers/local-government-authority

Cool

Their respective states governors will kill them...

front seat

Let's see it happen.

How many times will this matter comes up & like this & what have been the end effect? State governors will arm twist this same NASS & kill the bill.Useless country with useless leaders.

Long overdue.

Pls n pls, pass d bill today cos d governors fell as if we r begging them n if any governor who failed to conduct LGA election in his state ll b impeach by Nass not state house assembly cos they r stooge to governors. Pls don't disappoint us not tomorrow they said governors ll bribe u Nass with billions of dollars.

Eberelinks:
Pls n pls, pass d bill today cos d governors fell as if we r begging them n if any governor who failed to conduct LGA election in his state ll b impeach by Nass not state house assembly cos they r stooge to governors. Pls don't disappoint us not tomorrow they said governors ll bribe u Nass with billions of dollars.

this time around it will come to pass bro... this is the most important bill the 8 National Assembly will pass that will go down in history to be a game changer

Eberelinks:
Pls n pls, pass d bill today cos d governors fell as if we r begging them n if any governor who failed to conduct LGA election in his state ll b impeach by Nass not state house assembly cos they r stooge to governors. Pls don't disappoint us not tomorrow they said governors ll bribe u Nass with billions of dollars.

The same old story

State house of assembly/governors won't like this

Another wild goose chase programmed to end in utter futility.

I love coming here to read the comments. Some people (like myself at times) are obsessed with reading comments. For example, we find you reading this comment right now, which does not contain any useful information, only curiosity, that drives you to waste your time. Have a good day

I support that the local council have more power, spend more money and have more voice than the state and federal government. Let true democracy come please.


But na Nigeria be this na. Those greedy senators would never allow this.




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Good move.

The mother of all hypocrisy is state government's quest for resource control while they stand firmly against anything that seeks to grant LGAs autonomy.

I hope this sails through

in 6 years now the Oyo State government is yet to conduct LGA election. caretakers everywhere violating the rights and resources of the grassroots. APShit

I concur !!!

some LG chairmen will be powerful ehn so teh....na only immunity for seperate them from a state gov

Long overdue... The State Government is ripping the LG off while the sHoA are like a rubber stamp to the governor

Imo state

This is long overdue.

We can't say we're practicing democracy and not be seen to be doing so at the grassroots.

They should abolished them.they are extension of corruption. They inflict more pains on masses,in the name of revenue generation.

Progressive01:
Good move.
The mother of all hypocrisy is state government's quest for resource control while they stand firmly against anything that seeks to grant LGAs autonomy.
I hope this sails through

this is obviously a joke taken too far by one journalist. It wont see the light of day, at least not now. Corruption no go let them gree.

long overdue

Governors don't want to see it happen that why it has been lingering.

We are the problem of ourselves in this country.

Na today

The governor's themselves are dictators. Before you know caretaker committees have been set up

Thank God

zabadii:
in 6 years now the Oyo State government is yet to conduct LGA election. caretakers everywhere violating the rights and resources of the grassroots. APShit

Why would he do that. I don't understand the motivation behind this. It doesn't cost cost much more to add a few pieces of paper with other choices. During presidential election in USA. We also voted on many other state and local issues.

In Texas we voted on Judges, state representatives, sherif, rail road commissioner, local Initiatives etc. No reason why Nigeria can't it be like that. It would be very simple.