NSUKKA – A human rights activist, Mr Richard Ezenma, has urged the Federal Government to reposition local government system, to achieve the mandate of taking development to the grassroots.
Ezema told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka on Tuesday that repositioning the councils would help to fast-track development in rural areas.
He said that the repositioning would achieve the main reason for their creation.
“The present situation where some councils operate joint bank account with their states makes it impossible for the council chairmen to be held responsible for under-development in their areas. [eap_ad_2] “Some governors decide when to release funds and which project to be carried out by local government chairman because of joint account.
“The aim of establishing local governments was to ensure grassroots development in rural areas but now, it appears that the aim has been defeated,” he said
He said that there was urgent need to strengthen the capacity of councils to improve their level of performance and fast-track development in the areas.
“Lack of autonomy and interference by state governors are major problems facing local government system in the country.”
The activist also urged government to ensure that council elections were held in all the states, adding that that caretaker committees should not exceed six months.
“Caretaker committee members are not elected by the people and as such cannot be accountable to the people.
“It is unfortunate that some state governors like using caretaker committees to run local government because they want to favour their relations and friends who will give total allegiance to them,” he said.
Ezema advocated a uniform tenure for local government chairmen throughout the country.
He also urged that the current development where some caretaker committee members stayed two to four years as it suited the state houses of assembly should be revisited.
“The uniform tenure will enable local government chairmen to serve their tenure and help to assess their performance nation-wide.” (NAN)[eap_ad_3]