Tinubu canvasses for local government autonomy

President Bola Tinubu has criticised state governors over what he termed an overbearing influence on the administration of local government councils in the country.

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According to the president, issues of accountability and ineffectiveness hinder the growth of local council authorities and state governors must be held accountable.

The president made these remarks on Thursday at a meeting with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

His criticism comes barely a few days after the Federal Government sued the 36 state governors over LG autonomy.

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Taking a swipe at the governors, Tinubu said during elections, local governments become key to raking in votes but soon after the polls, the governors concentrate at the centre.

“We are running a constitutional democracy. I will appeal to you to summon the governors. I am doing my very best to enhance the revenue base of the country. They must equally be sympathetic, and they must urgently consider the needs of the local people.

“People reside in the local communities. That is where they work, farm, and live. If the local governments are not effective in delivering services, as leaders, we must not hang on to the numbers. We have 774 local government areas, but are they truly effective? Do they solve problems for Nigerians? Do they coordinate development programming with the state and federal governments?

“Who is being held accountable for the performance of the 774 local governments? Maybe we should look at recalibrating. What was good four years ago may not be good today. When we want the votes, we go to the locals; when we get the votes, we move to and focus on Abuja,” the president said.

While highlighting the significance of education in nation-building, the president described the situation of out-of-school children in parts of Nigeria as unacceptable.

“The question of out-of-school children is unacceptable. Education is a tool against poverty, and that is what brought many of us here. We must use our education to serve the people and improve their conditions. We must develop the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, which is the education system. We will collaborate with you on this intensively.

“We are still building Nigeria, and I am glad that you have emphasised the need for development. The infrastructure decay is unacceptable, and the level of poverty in the north is unacceptable. We must eliminate the source of these trends,” President Tinubu stated.