The Local Councils are the closest arm of government to the masses. they are meant to bring about a lot of impactful infrastructure development, provisions of health services, and facilities and provision of basic infrastructure, among a couple of others intervention to make life liveable at the grassroots.
The real idea behind the creation of local Councils, was essentially to bring the effect of governance and benefits of democracy closer to the peoples at the lower level. but it was so pity, that somes bad governors are moving against this local council autonomy. Even though the local Councils function as stipulated in the 1999 constitution is that, it shall responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads, streets, streetlight, and others public highway.
In some states, expecially Kwara state, over the years, the performance of local Councils has been completely disappointed, despite the governor appointed TIC representatives. as they bear very little or no impact on the lives peoples at the grassroots. the way local Councils are treated with utter disrespect and disdain insensitivity by state governors are not good. Local Councils are just been existing by name, by our constitution. Local governments are supposed to be third tier of government, but they are not recognised because the governors are not allow them to function.
If l could recalled over some years back the current governor of Ogun state H.E Dapo Abiodun. having an issues with elective chairmen and they were all bowed down to greet him and seek for apologies. what caused this, since their nomination forms must be approved by the governor. It would be difficult for them to act independently.
the states government are independent, but the same states government are not allowing the local Councils within their domains to operate independently. All the governors insisted the money meant for local government should come down to state coffers. All these are because of corruption and greed. I urged H.E PBAT to put cancellation of the joint account of both state government and local Councils needed to be abolished. Local Councils needed to stand on it own, and operate on it own, without any intervention.
I support the idea of local Councils autonomy. If the local government are working effectively, the pressure on the state government will reduce.
