A Sudanese Delegation have visited Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, to understudy Nigeria’s Federal system of government.
The delegation who were received by the Executive Chairman of the Council, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu in the council had an extensive tutorial on the working relation of Nigeria Federal system by the chairman, his cabinet members and members of the legislative.
Maikalangu explained the three tiers of government to the delegation and pointed out that powers of each tier was determined by the Constitution and once tier stayed within its legal limits, there was no cause for any conflict.
He also stated that, as the closest tier of government to the people, Local Governments, including Area Councils in the FCT needed more resources to be able to provide basic amenities such as pipe-borne water, electricity, road network and primary health care, among others.
“We are closest to the people, so we need more money to provide for their basic needs.”
The AMMC boss stated this and decried that funds from the two sources of revenue generation available to the Council: Federation Account and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), were insufficient to carter for the 250 villages with the Council.
Leader of the South Sudanese delegation and Minister of Federal Affairs, Hon. Losuba Wongo Ludoru, while stating the reason for the visit disclosed that the team was in Nigeria to understudy our federal system and replicate same in South Sudan.
According to him, the youngest country which obtained her independence 2011, has unfortunately been enmeshed in internal crisis, making the President, Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit to establish the Federal Affairs Ministry as part of efforts to enthrone a federal structure to take care of that country’s diversity and form an all-inclusive government.
Wongo revealed that President Kiir specifically recommended Nigeria as a country with an enduring legacy of a federal structure worthy of study and emulation.
“If we have to be a united South Sudan, we need a federal system of government, a permanent constitution, a competent justice system and achieve the return of refugees.
“A federal system of government units different people without having to continuously fight at the centre,” he stated.
The team sought to know revenue was generated and shared among the three tiers of governments in Nigeria and separation of powers among them.
They also asked questions about how recruitment of personnel was done to ensure equal representation the diverse peoples, budgeting processes, as well as governance of service delivery.
