Since the assumption of office by His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, the third tier of government — the Local Government Councils — has been crippled in Kogi State. Alongside them, the Local Education Authorities were rendered ineffective. Executive Chairmen and Education Secretaries were not allowed to function as the law prescribes.
Local Government remains the closest tier of government to the people, yet in Kogi State, it has been reduced to a mere shadow. No Local Government Chairman can boast of executing a project worth even ₦500,000. Our findings across the 21 LGAs reveal that most Chairmen only attend ceremonies and political gatherings, with no real governance or development impact in their communities.
The much-talked-about LG autonomy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fast becoming a scam in practice, as state governments continue to hijack the functions of local councils. Under the PDP — from Governor Ibrahim Idris (Ibro) to Captain Idris Wada — this was not the case. Local Governments were allowed to function; they recruited staff, and even poverty alleviation programs such as NAPEP were introduced.
So why is this unfortunate situation happening under an APC-led government?
Why is it happening under the leadership of one of Nigeria’s most civilized people, the Ebira?
We must speak! Let us raise our voices against this injustice. Let us correct them. Let us draw their attention to the danger of silencing the third tier of government. Enough is enough.
Worse still, it is only in Kogi State that you find appointees wielding equal power with the governor — if not outright dictating to him. We have had several Accountant-General before now, but this present one wields excessive influence beyond imagination. Why must we allow power to intoxicate us? Can we not learn from the lives of FGYB and Late Prince Abubakar Audu after they left office?
This is not Tinubu’s fault, neither is it that of the Federal Government — it is purely a state government problem. We therefore call on Governor Usman Ododo to reverse the bad policies of his predecessor if he truly desires to return to Lugard House.
We acknowledge and commend him for the early and prompt payment of workers’ salaries, but that alone is not an achievement — it is simply the right thing to do. What the people demand is functional governance at the grassroots. Executive Chairmen must be allowed to function without undue interference.
Only then will democracy be meaningful, and only then will development reach the people where it matters most — at the grassroots.
– Dr. Paul Ameh
Good Governance Connect, Nigeria.
