By Blessing Etim
Stakeholders of the National Councilors’ Forum, has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to aid Local Government Councils in the realization of autonomy, as Councilors cannot function properly without appreciable elements of autonomy.
Speaking to newsmen at the 8th National Conference/Convention and election of new executives held at Green-minds Hotel, Utako, Abuja, on December, 8th, 2021, with the theme; ‘Consolidating Law Making In Revenue Generation At Local Government Level And Curbing The Challenges Of Insecurity’, the Chairman of the Convention, Hon. Adesoji Adesokan maintained that national issues such as Insecurity as well as banditry can be addressed if combated from the grassroot level through the Local Government Council.
“As Councilors, we are at the mercy of executives, I still maintain that it is when the autonomy of the local government is allowed, that we will practice the true democracy in the country and you will see things move the right way.”
Adesokan who lamented that Councilors were underpaid and unable to feed their families, further maintained that accountability should not be expected of them when zero provision is being made.
On the other hand, Director General, Information Technology and Local Government Security System, Prof. Mortiulah Olasupo who urged the government to recognize the National Councilors’ Forum ‘because democracy begins at the grass-root level’, also said accountability is vital to the growth of a nation.
Meanwhile, other stakeholders such as the Chairman, South-South Zone, NCFN, Hon. Ndiya Biaupara, have restated the need for the Federal Government to create firm security systems at the grassroot level, as insecurity is more rampant at this level. ‘The local government must be empowered to take care of that responsibility”.
