- Says only nine states have signed LGs autonomy bill into law
BudgIT, a civic organisation group, has called for transparency and openness in the implementation of local government projects across Nigeria.
Director of the group, Mr. Seun Onigbinde, said lots of funds are allotted yearly for capital expenditure, yet capital projects are left undone or uncompleted, thereby giving room for critical gaps in infrastructural development in the country.
Onigbinde explained that Local Government Areas, being the third tier of government, were created with the ultimate goal of bringing governance closer to the people at the grassroots, adding that the result was reverse.
“LGAs in Nigeria have not lived up to expectation in their operations due to interference by state governors. As at today, only nine states have signed the Local Government Autonomy Bill into law. Signing the bill into law in some states didn’t metamorphose into financial autonomy for the councils; though as the governors still interfere with their finances,” he said.
Onigbinde regretted that the local government chairmen are handpicked by state governors, who, in turn, dictate their operations and also prevent them from getting their allocations directly from the Federal Government, and this has resulted to a total collapse of local government administration in Nigeria.
“Suffice to say that the narrative is slightly different in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja; Municipal Area Council raised the bar of transparency and accountability in Local Government Administration in Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that, the council, under the leadership of Abdullahi Adamu Candido , is the first to release the council’s 2018 budget in the Federal Capital Territory. Kwali and Abaji area councils have since followed suit by releasing their 2018 budget to the public, adding that Local government councils in the FCT enjoy some level of autonomy due to the structure of FCT administration.
“It is also worthy of note that the DEAN initiative which is dedicated to transparency and accountability in local government administration in Nigeria also deserves some credit for ensuring these area councils release their budget to the public,” he
said.
He revealed that Tracka extended its tracking activities to Abuja Municipal Area Council with the aim of making the budget available to the citizens at the grassroots, track the implementation of the council’s 2018 budget, and also build the capacity of the citizens on public finance especially budget matters, thus enabling them own the projects and actively track implementation of capital projects in their
community.
“Tracka is also working with community-based organisations and religious and traditional leaders in various communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council. Tracka has also identified and built the capacity of our community champions to make citizens continuously demand for service delivery from their representatives”, he said.
