National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru in Plateau State has been tasked to assist in scrapping State Joint Local Government Account to enhance effective administration and better performance of the local government councils in the country.
NIPPS is also asked to assist in removing the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2010 (as amended).
The State Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Akwa Ibom Branch, Otuekong Franklyn Isong made the calls in a paper he delivered during an interactive session with the Local Study Tour of the Senior Executive Course 44, 2022 participants of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.
The paper on the theme: “Strengthening Local Governance in Nigeria: Challenges, Options and Opportunities” was delivered on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at the Conference Room, Office of the Secretary to State Government, Akwa Ibom Government House, Uyo.
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According to the pro-democracy, “the Nigerian Constitution recognises local government as the third tier of government with assigned responsibilities.
The Nigeria Constitution also grants allocations from the federation account to the local governments on monthly basis but these allocations are paid into an account created by the same constitution in Section 162(6) called, the State Joint Local Government Account.
The mismanagement of this account by State governments has negatively affected effective service delivery at the local governance thus, the constitution should be amended to abolish the ‘State Joint Local Government Account’ in order to enable local governments have direct access to their federal allocations monthly.
The CLO boss also noted that, “Section 197(1)(b) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution establishes the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC). Unfortunately, many State governments have not been allowing their State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to conduct elections as at when due but rather settle for “Caretaker Committees”. Where elections are conducted, the party in control of the State apparatus will always clear the polls in Akwa Ibom State and in Nigeria at large.
“The SIECs are independent in name and not in practice. The Nigerian Constitution should be amended to delete Section 197(1)(b) ‘State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC)’ and to donate its functions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These in my considered opinion, are some of the fundamental constitutional reforms that can go a long way in strengthening local governance in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria generally,” the human rights group boss opined.
“Worthy of note that an effective and inclusive local governance system provides one of the most important avenues for people — including the poor, women and minorities — to participate in the development of their communities and to influence the public sector’s decisions that are directly relevant to their lives,” Isong added.
Others who also made presentations at the forum were the Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Sunny James and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, and the youth representative.
Members of the NIPSS Study Group included Air Vice Marshal C.U. Nwagwu, directing staff; Col. Chukwudi Edwin Ugorji, Chairman; Mrs. Folashade Adebayo-Fari, Vice Chairman; Group Capt. Pius Ugochukwu Okwuego, Rapporteur; Col. Hassan Maisiyama Bukar, Asst. Rapporteur; Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Idris Sadiq, Welfare/Finance Officer; Bello Jaji Sambo, Legal Officer.
Other were: Mr. Kolawole Najeem Akintola, Security Officer; Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, member; Commissioner of Police Arungwa Nwazue Udo, member; Adeyeye Ebenezer Ajayi, member; Mr. Oluwafemi Abiodun Jinadu, member and Comptroller Amos Danlami Kupan, member, among others.
