25 years after, LGs get full financial autonomy

…As NASS scraps State Independent electoral bodies

2024 marks 25 years since Nigeria started using the 1999 constitution and transitioned from the military-led administration to a democratically elected government.

However, there have been various agitations since the new dispensation of democratic rule to grant autonomy to the Local Government in Nigeria. This has been largely been driven by the lampooning of Local Governments by many State Governors to fail to conduct elections for the LGs and also hold on to the funding of the LGs hence resulting in the ineffectiveness of the LGs.

The National Assembly on Tuesday has in a landmark move amended section 124 of the nation’s constitution granting full financial autonomy and administrative autonomy to all the 774 local council authorities across Nigeria.

Similarly, the amendment scrapped the existence of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) from the constitution.

By this development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will henceforth conduct local government elections and the LGs will be free to handle their finances individually.

The National Assembly also made provisions for independent candidates in future elections in Nigeria by amending sections 65 and 106 of the 1999 constitution.

Section 124 of the constitution provides a consequential provision for the making of the local councils a full third tier government without undue interference from the state governments.

The amendment was one of the 22 others approved by the House of Representatives last week and ratified by the Senate on Tuesday.

Both chambers had through a conference committee harmonised versions of the amendments in the constitution carried out by each of them last month.

By the development, the National Assembly had ratified all the 23 clauses and sections that had been amended by both chambers.

The newly amended document which would be sent to the State Houses of Assembly, for approval, also approved the creation of the Office of Auditor General of the Local Government as well as the State Local Government Service Commission.

However, immunity clauses for the President and Governors were retained in the constitution by adopting the Senate version of the amendments on the issue and rejecting the House of Representatives version which removed the immunity clause.

Fire guts Soludo’ aide’s office

A part of the office of the Special Adviser to Anambra Governor on Political Matters, Dr Alex Obiogbolu, was on Tuesday gutted by fire.

The office is inside the Anambra Government House, Agu Awka, Awka.

Two fire fighting fighting trucks were deployed by the Fire Service to combat the inferno.

A source in the office said the fire started from the electricity junction box.

Obiogbolu, who rushed back to the scene, described the inferno as “unfortunate,” while commending the Fire Service for their swift response.

In a reaction, Mr Chukwudi Chiketa, the Anambra Fire Chief confirmed that the inferno was as a result of power surge.

Chiketa called residents to ensure they switched off their electrical appliances whenever they were not not in use and to make sure they had fire extinguishers in homes and offices.

“It was as a result of power surge, we got there in good time and stopped the fire from causing maximum damage to the building or touching those around it.

“People should switch off their electrical appliance when they not at home and when they are not in use.

“It also important to make sure there is fire extinguisher in homes and offices so that they can contain the fire before Fire Service arrive the scene,” he said.