ABUJA – THE House of Representatives Wednesday
renewed the efforts to stop the joint account between states and local
government areas which is currently in the Nigerian Constitution. The
House also have started the process of ensuring local government
autonomy which the State Houses of Assembly voted against during the 7th
Assembly.
This renewed efforts to strengthen the local government administration was made known during the debate on the bill which seeks to amend Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution and ensure financial autonomy of Local Government Councils.
Leading the debate on the matter,the sponsor of the bill Nkiruka Onyejeocha explained that the proposed amendment when passed into law will foster the autonomy, transparency and accountability of local government administration in the country.
She said, “The practices of true federalism is lacking in Nigeria, especially at the local government level. Some state governments deprive their local governments of principal source of their revenues.
“Unless more stable internal source of revenue are exploited, and state-local government joint account abolished, the objective of strengthening local governments in terms of its relationship with state and federal governments will remain a mirage.”
She decried the state of deprivation and under-development of Local Government Councils across the country, adding that the spirit behind the bill was to make the councils in the country to have financial autonomy through which all funds from the Federation Account shall be paid directly.
The lawmaker further stated that the dsbursement of the fund shall be effected through a Bye-law passed by the Local Government Legislative Council, and that “with this joint account in place, many state governments starve local governments of funds, especially funds accruing from the federation account.”
Onyejeocha said the bill will also help to guarantee employment to local government councils and enable the Local Government Councils to perform their constitutional duties.
While ruling on the debate, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara who presided over the plenary referred the bill to the Special Adhoc Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun, for further legislative action.
Recall that the 7th Assembly had passed the bill to grant financial autonomy to local government areas, but the State Houses of Assembly through the influence of their various state governors voted against it.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/reps-move-abolish-state-lga-joint-account/
This renewed efforts to strengthen the local government administration was made known during the debate on the bill which seeks to amend Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution and ensure financial autonomy of Local Government Councils.
Leading the debate on the matter,the sponsor of the bill Nkiruka Onyejeocha explained that the proposed amendment when passed into law will foster the autonomy, transparency and accountability of local government administration in the country.
She said, “The practices of true federalism is lacking in Nigeria, especially at the local government level. Some state governments deprive their local governments of principal source of their revenues.
“Unless more stable internal source of revenue are exploited, and state-local government joint account abolished, the objective of strengthening local governments in terms of its relationship with state and federal governments will remain a mirage.”
She decried the state of deprivation and under-development of Local Government Councils across the country, adding that the spirit behind the bill was to make the councils in the country to have financial autonomy through which all funds from the Federation Account shall be paid directly.
The lawmaker further stated that the dsbursement of the fund shall be effected through a Bye-law passed by the Local Government Legislative Council, and that “with this joint account in place, many state governments starve local governments of funds, especially funds accruing from the federation account.”
Onyejeocha said the bill will also help to guarantee employment to local government councils and enable the Local Government Councils to perform their constitutional duties.
While ruling on the debate, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara who presided over the plenary referred the bill to the Special Adhoc Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun, for further legislative action.
Recall that the 7th Assembly had passed the bill to grant financial autonomy to local government areas, but the State Houses of Assembly through the influence of their various state governors voted against it.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/reps-move-abolish-state-lga-joint-account/
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