The Council Chairman of Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), John Gabaya has called on State governments all over the country to release their grip on the ideal running of local governments, where local governments are muscled and squeezed into a near state of oblivion.
The Chairman laid the charge in Bwari, Abuja, on Tuesday at the Council Secretariat, during the occasion of the ongoing study tour of the council by participants of the senior executive course 44, 2022 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Jos.
The Chairman who was represented by the council secretary, Eli Peter, called on NIPSS and the course to add more weight to the cry and quest for true autonomy for local governments in the country.
According to Gabaya; “The role of local government in the roots and fabrics of good and people oriented governance cannot be overemphasized. It is the government closest to the grassroots, ‘The People’.
“Aside this, local government councils perform a number of unique and indispensable functions, such as: providing services and development activities at the grassroots in response to local wishes and initiatives; facilitate the exercise of democratic self-government close to the grassroots; mobilize the enormous human and material resources at the grassroots for national development; as well as serving as a two-way channel of communication between the grassroots and government at the State and Federal level.
“The present practice whereby local government councils are muscled and squeezed into a near state of oblivion by States Governments all over the country constitute serious hindrances and impediments to the attainment of true democracy and good governance in Nigeria. Infact, it is a heinous crime against democratic and self-government.
“The voice and the work of this great institute commands great respect, regards and attention among scholars, policy makers, technocrats, administrators, politicians and people in leadership positions across the nation and beyond. I am therefore very excited and hopeful that your study and report at the end of this course and tour will add more weight to the cry and quest for true autonomy for local governments in the country” he said.
Role of traditional rulers
The Director General of NIPSS, Prof. Ochoche then lead a delegation of the participants to the palaces of the Sarakin Bwari, Alhaji Awal Musa Jakuro and the Etsu of Bwari, Danlamin Yaro, where the participants asked questions about the role of traditional rulers in administering their subjects.
The traditional rulers responded that their role is to solve lingering security issues and conflicts between their subjects. They also asked to be given control over land too.
Emmanuel Ukoh
