Mediaage NG News – ABUJA, Nigeria
Nigeria practices a federal system of government with responsibilities, powers and resources shared among the federal, states and local governments. Some analysts have likened governance structure in the country as a pyramid with the local governments at the base, states in the middle and the federal government at the pyramid.
Based on this framework, local government councils are saddled with the responsibility of providing basic municipal functions and bring governance closer to the people at the grassroots.
Some have also described local governments as the first line of defence in the Nigerian governance architecture, addressing communal, local, grassroot related governance and developmental challenges.
These were background to the National Discourse On Nigeria’s Security Challenges and Good Governance At The Local Government Level, held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
The objective of the Discourse was aimed at providing a platform for critical stakeholders to reflect on the governance structure at the grassroots, identify challenges and make appropriate recommendations on how to address issues facing the country.
Specific objectives include discussions on the key challenges inhibiting effective governance at the local government level, ascertain the extent to which weak governance at the local government level contributes to insecurity and other developmental/existential challenges confronting the country and its citizens, galvanise public action for improved governance and service delivery at the subnational, leveraging ongoing reforms such as the debate on state police and the constitution amendment exercise.
Speaker of the House of Representatives and Convener of the event, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by his Deputy, Hon. Benjamin Kalu said the relevance of local governments can be seen in the essence of providing local solutions to local problems using local methods.
He also said the issue of national security and good governance requires urgency and cannot be helped without the local governments involved. “Local governments should be granted the autonomy they deserve and state governors should support the president as regards this.
Dr. Yahaya representing the National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu described local government as an important tier of governance that can help tackle insecurity challenges and foster faster growth. He also said the NSA has initiated conversations with state governors and other stakeholders for improved security and good governance.
Hon. Bukar Talba, the Chairman , House Committee on Public Sector/Institutional Reforms, while revealing the essence of local government which he said cannot be overstated, added that it is best to continue to support and strengthen the structures at th local government level for the growth of the country.
National Chairman.of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said local government is the nearest institution to the people. Therefore, the role and structure of the third tier must be understood to give credence to their existence.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole said the country will collapse if there is no governance at the local level.