– The Nigerian Senate has announced its plan to abolish the use of joint accounts between states and local governments
– The Senate said these process is contained in the ongoing Constitution amendment
– The Senate also said the process will impact more positively in local areas, help tackle rural-urban drift and rising security challenges
File photo of lawmakers during a plenary
The Nigerian Senate on Sunday, October 30, said it has made provision for a complete abolishment of joint accounts between states and local government areas.
In an interview with News agency of Nigeria (NAN) the chairman senate committee on state and local government affairs Abdullahi Abubakar said the process is made available in the ongoing constitution amendment.
Abubakar also said there is plan to abolish states independent electoral commissions.
He said the decision which was taken at a retreat in Lagos by speakers of states Houses of Assembly will provide room for the strengthening local government administration for maximum enactment that will benefit locals.
Abubakar said the lawmakers and the eight assembly is currently dialoguing with state governors to allow the local governments function independently.
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He also decried the low turnout for local government councils’ election, adding that out of 36 states in Nigeria, only 10 have conducted such elections.
Abubakar said: “This means that 75 per cent of the local government leadership in the country occupy the offices unconstitutionally and unelected.”
“From my tour to some local governments, the third tier of government has been rendered useless, empty, and nothing meaningful is happening at the grassroots government,’’ he said.
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He restated that a strong local government administration would impact more positively in local areas, help tackle rural-urban drift and rising security challenges.
“If our local governments function well, the youths in the areas would leave their houses and go to work and return home without any problem,” he said.
“It will be the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct local government polls.
“We are doing all these so that political parties can vie for positions freely during local government elections without any fear of intimidation by the ruling party in a state.
“We have made far reaching changes in the spirit of the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ Abubakar added.
Meanwhile, the federal government has spent N3.577 trillion out of the full year – 2016 – budget of N6.060 trillion.
This money spent, translates to a 79% performance of the pro-rated budget for the three quarters up to September 30.
Also, the media adviser to the minister on budget and national planning ministry, Akpandem James in a statement said: “To date, budgeted personnel cost and debt service obligations have been fully met on schedule.”
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