Do You Support Local Government Autonomy? !! By Engr David Olusegun Okanlawon

Do You Support Local Government Autonomy? !! By Engr David Olusegun Okanlawon.

Most local governments in the South-West and in Nigeria are dying and almost lifeless. They were supposed to be the third arm of government, which is closest to the grassroots, actively engaged with bottom-up development. However, most governors have pocketed the local governments (LGs). They have been reduced to appendages of the Office of the Governor in most states. As we approach the 2023 elections, we need to ask governorship candidates if they support local government autonomy.
The issues of local government autonomy border mostly around freedom of receiving and spending money by the LGs. They also involve the freedom of operation as the LGs deliver their constitutional responsibilities to the people. These freedoms are essential if our local governments will fulfil their potentials. Fulfilling these potentials is a secure route to sustainable grassroots development in our country.

Local governments are uniquely positioned to address the issues that are pertinent to the citizenry. Their proximity to the masses makes it easy for them to identify low-hanging developmental fruits. With adequate access to their funds, local governments can enter into strategic partnerships and invest in initiatives and projects (processing, logistics, etc.) that will benefit their people. Thus, they are better able to unlock the abundant resources from the hinterlands than the State governments.

However, they have been muscled out financially, hobbled administratively and diminished politically. They are now shadows and skeletons of what they should be. When local governments have access to their own resources rather than being maligned and dispossessed by State Governors, citizens at the grassroots enjoy their constitutional right to a government that is close to them.

The Governors do not know that they are short-changing themselves by denying the local governments the much-needed autonomy. If the local governments are functioning properly, they will easily expose areas where the respective state governments can collaborate with them for greater impact through policies and further investments. It is much better than the wild goose chase for white elephant projects that is the norm. Any sensible governor that really desires to improve the livelihoods of the citizens will know that this is a path to strategic, large-scale impact across the state.

I am from the Ibarapa region of Oyo State. Consecutive governors in the state have essentially side-lined the region in terms of real development. Our people are primarily farmers. Yet, we lack good roads to move our produce from the farms to the towns. This is at the same time when other regions not only have good roads, but have several kilometres of dual carriage roads.
If our local governments had autonomy, they would have been able to, at least, fixed some of our roads. However, since they are handicap courtesy of our governors, they can barely afford to grade roads. Our people have been stripped from the basics that they can associate with having some form of government because of some people’s greed for power and control. What a shame!
A common excuse for taking over local governments’ functions is that misappropriation of funds is rife there. This opinion is as dumb as it is lame. Why do we have laws? If people misappropriate funds, they should face the consequences. If there are loopholes in the laws, fix them through additional laws.

When a governor spends money that belongs to the local governments, is that not misappropriation? It just does not make sense that people that we call “His Excellency” show themselves devoid of excellence in this matter.
President Buhari, in his interview with Arise TV and This Day insinuated that the state governors bully local government chairmen to surrender much of their statutory allocations under duress. He said, “You as a local government are supposed to receive NGN 300 million. A document is given to you to sign that you have received NGN 300m, but you are given only NGN 100m.” This is nothing but extortion and misappropriation.

Unfortunately, these local government chairmen can do nothing about this. Most local governments are controlled by appointed administrators. They are beneficiaries of the skewed “benevolence” of their benefactors, the governors. Hence, their allegiance is to the spoon that feeds them through the position.
Unfortunately, the food scrapings they are fed belongs to them, to their people. However, since they were not elected, they lack the capital, confidence and courage to demand what belongs to their local governments. This is why governors hardly approve the conduct of local government elections until the end of their tenures (e.g. the late Governor Ajimobi in 2019, after over seven years in office) or when they are being kicked out of office (Governor Oyetola of Osun State plans to conduct local government elections in October, when he will leave the office in November, having lost his 2nd term election bid).
As we approach the 2023 general elections, most eyes are on the presidential election, and we must pay close attention to it! Notwithstanding, we should keep our eyes on every election. While the president’s policies and stances will greatly impact security and other areas, your governor’s position can determine if your village or your street will be accessible; depending on his/her inclination to local government autonomy. Hence, ask that candidate: do you support local government autonomy?

We should vote governorship candidates who are confident in the office of the governor as a strategic ally to the local governments rather than an over bearing lord.
We should support candidates who will not deny our grassroots transformation because of their personal insecurities.
Let us vote people whose ego is not bigger than their desire for the development of our people and communities.
Let us vote people that will not appoint pawns to administer our local governments.
Let us support individuals that will let our local governments breathe the fresh air of development and progress.
Let us get it right this time, and every time, going forward!

LET’s DOO IT ACCORDingly in 2023.

Engr. (Dr). David Olusegun Okanlawon.
Accord Candidate of House of Representatives, Ibarapa Central/ North Federal Constituency.