ABUJA – A former House of Representatives member and renowned philanthropist, Prince Ned Munir Nwoko has said Nigeria’s problems will be over if all the 774 Local Governments across the nation are granted full autonomy.
Nwoko stated this at the Democracy Day Lecture titled ‘Getting it Right Ahead of 2023’ which was organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Correspondents’ Chapel, FCT Council.
Speaking passionately on the general state of insecurity across the nation and the seeming helplessness by the Federal government in tackling the menace of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnaping and Fulani herdsmen attacks of farming communities, Nwoko said, “Local Government Autonomy is the beginning and end of all Nigeria’s problems.”
According to him, “We need Local Government Autonomy in all ramifications. I know governors will fight it because they use it for elections. I was happy and sad when President Muhammadu Buhari talked about the mess in the Local Government system.
“Many governors oppose Local Government Autonomy vehemently. They don’t want to hear about Local Government Autonomy because that is the only way they can win elections by planting the chairmen who are their boys to various Local Governments.
“But I am glad that the President has identified this as a major problem and if he does not take the steps to address the issue now as he might do because he is saying that the National Assembly is there.
“National Assembly is also made up of people who were supported by their governors. Do you think that Senators and House of Representatives members would go against their governors when most of them are not independent-minded?
“They are not thinking about the people but how they will win the election again. So their loyalty is to their Governors. So I can say governors are the biggest problem we have in Nigeria now. They are, you can quote me anywhere.”
He further revealed that, he was happy because at least the President knows what is happening but was sad at the same time, because the President has failed to do anything.
The President, in his opinion, can issue an executive order on the matter, especially as the Local Government workers have been pushing for autonomy.
He also noted that, the idea of sending money meant for the Local Governments to states in the name of joint account gives room for pilfering, this he said is the cause of underdevelopment at the ruler level.
“If N300m is earmarked for the Local Government, N100m does not get to them. The president said it, he knows about it. Then what is stopping him from working with the National Assembly to ensure there is autonomy?
“You can imagine if Local Government chairmen and the councillors are empowered to do it working with traditional rulers. Every crime is local and if the 774 Local Government are empowered, how many will be occupied by insurgency? The State Government cannot deal with the issue because they don’t believe it is their obligation.”
Aside this, Nwoko blamed the underdevelopment at the Local Government on corruption. He said, “At the Local Government level the chairmen and councilors cannot be trusted. But the EFCC, ICPC, DSS and the CCT are there to do the monitoring on how they manage the funds.
“Allocation will not be a windfall going forward as Nigeria prepares for the next Local Government that would become autonomous, that will give comfort to every citizen.
“Youth restiveness is local and with Local Government Autonomy that is well funded, chairmen and councilors must work hand in hand with the traditional institution to ensure security. That would be the way to go.”