Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, representing Anambra South Senatorial District, has criticized the persistent failure of successive administrations in Anambra State to conduct local government elections over the past 18 years.
Advertorial
Speaking during Wednesday’s plenary session, Ubah, a prominent member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed his concerns while contributing to a motion by Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu (Kano South), which urged President Bola Tinubu to rejuvenate the local government system.
Ubah emphasized that the absence of local government elections in Anambra since 2006 has severely hampered governance and infrastructure development in the state.
Advertorial
He argued that adherence to the 1999 constitutional framework is essential for granting true autonomy to Nigeria’s local governments, which he sees as critical for addressing issues such as insecurity, rural-urban migration, decaying infrastructure, and unemployment.
“If we aim to promote good governance, we must revisit section 7 of the 1999 constitution to truly value democracy in our states,” Ubah stated.
He linked the state’s economic and social challenges to the prolonged non-implementation of this constitutional provision.
Advertorial
During the session, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the sitting, overruled an attempt by Senator Victor Umeh to interrupt Ubah’s speech, resulting in a brief commotion.
Senator Kawu, in his lead debate, highlighted that certain governors have played significant roles in obstructing local government autonomy through constitutional amendments.
He pointed out that the lack of financial and operational independence for local governments undermines their capacity to address local issues effectively, including security and infrastructure.
Kawu remarked, “Without the ability to spearhead local economic initiatives, local governments are less equipped to tackle unemployment.”
He stressed that the current security challenges in Nigeria are exacerbated by the financial constraints faced by local governments.
Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro noted that over 17 states are currently operating local government caretaker committees, which stymies effective local governance.
He called for thorough investigations into this systemic abuse.
Other senators echoed the call for constitutional amendments to bolster local government independence, describing the local government system as the most exploited tier of government.
They emphasized the need for full autonomy to enable local governments to function effectively.
In its resolutions, the Senate urged President Tinubu to champion the advocacy for local government autonomy to address pressing issues like insecurity and infrastructure decay.
Additionally, the Senate called for a national dialogue involving various stakeholders to develop a roadmap for achieving this autonomy.
The upper chamber also pressed for federal agencies to comply with existing laws that empower local governments by ensuring timely disbursement of allocated funds directly to local government accounts and streamlining administrative processes.
