ON AMENDMENT OF LGS ELECTIONS: KUDOS FOR THE SENATE AND KNOCKS FOR THE REPS

ON AMENDMENT OF LGS ELECTIONS: KUDOS FOR THE SENATE AND KNOCKS FOR THE REPS
     

                          By:
Nurudeen Dauda
                      July 29,2017
nurudeendauda24@gmail.com
nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com
nurudeendauda.blogspot.com

Permit me to say that, In my modest view, the recent Senate amendment for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, rather than the States Independent Electoral Commissions to henceforth be conducting local governments elections is a welcome development, but sadly to note is that the House of Reps has voted against it. Section 9 of the 1999 constitution as amended states that for any of its sections to be amended it must have Two- third majority votes of; namely: Senate (73 Senators), Federal House of Reps (240 Reps) and 24 States House of Assemblies out the 36 in the federation.

I am highly disappointed with the Federal House of Reps for their rejection of deletion of states Independent Electoral Commission in their constitutional amendment voting. In my understanding, it is not too late for the Reps yet . However, for our Local Government administration to be strengthened both the Senate and the Reps must provide for fixed tenure of 3 or 4 years in the constitution. If a President or Governor complains that 4 years term is not enough to carry out his developmental programs one wonders what a Chairman will do in 2 years.

The Local Government Elections being conducted presently by States Electoral Commission, In my humble opinion, is a mockery of Democracy. The ruling party of everywhere elections is conducted sweeps all available sits. In my humble opinion, for the Local Government Administration to develop in Nigeria, we should and or must amend our constitution in order to provide for;namely: (1) fixed and defined tenure of say 3 or 4 years by the constitution not to be determined by States Assemblies as it is presently, and (2) Abolishment of states Independent Electoral Commission, SIECs.

In my understanding, States Governors right from 1999 to date find it very difficult to conduct Local Governments Elections because of: (1) Joint States and Local governments Account, (2) Cost of conducting elections, and (3) The fear of losing absolute control of their political parties.

Appointment of caretaker committees as LGs chairmen was introduced during the heydays of PDP which was adopted by the opposition and now the governing APC. In my observation, it was essentially to allow the Governors have unquestionable access to LGs funds in view of the fact that they appointed them. More so, cost of conducting elections is very huge. Arguably the average cost of conducting LGs elections in any state is about N 3billion. Some state Governors at this period of financial crunch will prefer to channel the money into the provision of critical infrastructure in order to curry political support. However, another reason of not conducting LGs elections by the states Governors is perhaps the fear of losing political structure or support base, as such they rather appoint their loyalist as caretaker committees.

For local government administration to develop we must focus on internally generated revenue, IGR. We must have manageable local government personnel. We must stop wastages at local government levels. We must eliminate ghost workers. We must use technology to block lekeages in local government.

May God bless Nigeria!

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