The Local Government Administration as the pillar of representative democracy, deserves to be strengthened for rapid development to be experienced in the country.
This is the submission of the Senator representing Osun East at the National Assembly, Francis Fadahunsi, in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Sam Segun-Progress on his behalf to commemorate the occasion of this year’s Democracy Day.
The Lawmaker said autonomy for the Local government will make the people at the grassroot to have better access to democratic dividends.
He further said, “If the Local government system is allowed to run without the usual interference of state Governments,our people will have better returns on their democratic investment at the polls.
“The subversion and diversion of Local government allocations by most state governments is responsible for the lack of essential needs of the citizens.
“Most projects done with local government allocations by state Governors are mostly irrelevant to the populace and with no direct impact on the economy.
“The Local government used to be a comfort zone for citizens. It used to be that tier of government where representatives of the masses will be in charge of the resources that will be used to take care of people’s needs.
“But most state governors have turned the local governments in their states to an office under the Governor’s office.”
Declaring support for the call for Local government autonomy, Fadahunsi also demanded financial independence for the third tier of government.
He called on the governors, who had remained adamant on the Local government autonomy, to support the move by President Bola Tinubu to ensure autonomy for Local Government and help in stabilizing the democracy.
While congratulating Nigerians on the 25th anniversary of the return of democracy, he warned against allowing anti democratic tendencies to militarize the nation’s democracy, insisting that those opposed to civil ruler must “start accepting the fact that our democracy has come to stay”.
