Taraba: Gov Kefas inaugurates committee on local government autonomy

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has inaugurated a seven man local government Autonomy Advisory Committee.

The committee which was inaugurated on Monday, in Jalingo, the state capital, was assigned with the responsibility of guiding the government on the implementation of the local government autonomy.

The move was necessitated by the recent Supreme Court judgement declaring full autonomy for the 774 local government councils spread across the country.

Kefas described the formation of the committee as a significant milestone in the journey of the state towards a more democratic, accountable and efficient governance system.

The judgement, as made known by the governor, aligned with his administration’s commitment to centralization and local empowerment and further sets a clear path for the full autonomy of local government councils.

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Emphasizing that the judgement reaffirmed his earlier decision to conduct local government elections on the 18th of November 2023 and swear in the chairmen on the 23rd of November 2023, the steps, as opined by him, were to ensure that local government councils are equipped with the mandate and legitimacy to serve their communities effectively.

Recalling how he had earlier communicated to the Bureau for Local Government, Traditional, and Chieftaincy Affairs to allow council chairmen to take full responsibility for the management of the Joint Account and all administrative affairs, he reiterated his administration’s commitment and dedication to service, transparency and accountability.

The committee’s terms of reference as revealed by the governor, includes implementation of oversight functions, capacity building, financial autonomy, administrative reforms, security coordination, community engagements, evaluation and feedback, among others.

Responding, the committee chairman, Abel Peter Diah, said, the financial autonomy of the local government councils has been on the front burner, adding that the Supreme Court verdict was a victory for democracy and good governance.