The Nigeria constitution enshrined the Local Government arm as its third tier of governance that directly affects communities and its various grassroots entities. It takes charge of its security , health, education and its rural infrastructure to encourage life at that level of existence.
However, the Kogi State story have been a scene of sorrow, impunity and financial profligacy by its administrators particularly since the return of civil rule in 1999. The Kogi State Department of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as it were before it was granted autonomy to function as a Ministry have been the official department overseeing the Local Government Areas with its monthly allocations decided and shared at Joint Allocation meetings. Of course, a lot goes into different channels from the Directors, Permanent Secretaries and commissioners in the same ministry to the Chairmen, their God Fathers, their councillors, their political appointees and lastly the civil servant.
( (Commisioner(Permanent Secretary( Directors( Chairmen (Godfathers (Councillors(Political Appointees(Civil Servant)
These have been the trend until His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello came on board and abolished the Joint allocation committees and granted full autonomy to the Local Government Areas. At the expiration of the tenure of the elected chairmen, the Governor came under intense pressure to ensure cronies and stooges were appointed to enable this known culture of sharing continue but the Governor stood his ground and ensured that the right thing be done by appointing persons that won’t owe any form of allegiance to anyone but the people of his Local Government Area.
This feat was greeted with loud ovation by kogites. The Godfathers have lost out. No more sharing of allocation. The Governor went further and directed them to ensure monies go down to its original owners to reduce undue pressure on the state capital. They will be functional and resources meant for them will be efficiently utilized so that the people of the communities will once again feel the impact of Local Government Administration.
As citizens of the state, we keep praying and believing that this moment of paradigm shift in leadership and responsibility from the old to the young will be of great experimental success for the good people of Kogi state.
– Hon Yizogembi Solomon Abwa
APC stalwart
Bassa LGA
