One of the beauties of the cur­rent administration of Bola Tinubu is his push for the actualisation of the age-long demand for local government autono­my in the country.

Although the Federal Government and State Governments have shifted the battle fields of the agitation to court, many Nigerians think this is the best time for the country’s local governments to be autonomous with a view to promoting fiscal federalism in Nigeria.

They also maintained that the ac­tion of the current administration was salutary and indeed a worthwhile revolution to wake local government areas from deep slumber.

The Nigeria Union of Local Govern­ment Employees (NULGE), is going beyond rhetoric to justify why local governments should not remain at the reserved bench of administration in Nigeria.

For instance while most Nigerians are unanimous in their opinions for the eventual phase out of the subjuga­tion of local governments in the land, NULGE took a deep dive the constitu­tional, legal, economical and sociol­ogy reasons states should no longer be seen as the capoon of local govern­ment, which is the closest government to ordinary Nigerians.

Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji, the National President of NULGE, in an exclusive interview with Daily In­dependent, thinks local governments are impoverished, and comparing resources therein with the state and federal government was no brainer.

The National President of NULGE, told Daily Independent how local gov­ernment administration was regulat­ed in the past,zero allocations to same and later remedy and the abuse Joint Account between the state and local government areas.

“The drafter of the constitution meant well. There must be a basket that will have poll of fund available for infrastructural development and good governance and that of sub na­tional level. That is when the federal allocation is put in that basket 10% entire generated revenue across the state should be put into that basket for redistribution. That account is not a transactional account it is a re-distrib­utory account.

“Unfortunately, the abusers of the process, the state political actors now ceased corner local government allo­cation also ceased IGR , they refuse to pay 10% IGR and also legistlate against the constitution, against the fourth schedule of 1999 constitution that clearly listed the collectable for local government.

“For example the creation of the legal silent board, it’s illegal to the constitution. What is needed is ad­vertisment rate collectable by Local government.

He stated that the creation of used charges agency is illegal. What is moved to law is tenement rate.

The collection of refuse fees, market tolls, charges, and fees at the motor parks are statutorily the function of local government.

He added that the creation of mo­tor parks board, transport agency by state government to superintend over election of revenue at motor parks is illegal.

So, the local government is bread­ing from many sources.

The first denial option is the allo­cation that is allocated by Federal Government, federal accountant com­mittee and even payment of local gov­ernment IGR. That is why that level of committee is missing in action.

“That accounted for rural migra­tion. Leaving the rural communities vulnerable and occupied by bandit criminals affecting food securities in Nigeria.

“That is why the poverty level is so high because before the community GDP cumulate into national GPD.

“That is why to even bring in food from farms to market becomes impos­sible and most of these farm items are perishable.

“There are no good roads and even in the past, local government used to tie community roads, provide porta­ble water supply, provide electricity, primary education, healthcare, but all these are missing in action”.

He faulted allegations that local government is missing in action on minimum wage issue.

He questioned the capacity of many local government to pay salaries be­cause allocation to them has been hi­jacked by state government.

According to him, state government now pay salaries, and even pay polit­ical appointees of local government which they have turned them to ad­visable servants.

He added: “Elected chairmen of local government now stand arm at back facing an appointee of state gov­ernment, commissioner of local gov­ernment and chieftaincy.

“So, the issue of local government what will they say. They don’t have access to their fund, they don’t pay salaries, so the ball is upon the table of the state governor”.

He maintained that the creation of local government autonomy is the best measure to solving the political lacu­nae in the country.

Going down the memory lane, he pointed out that between 1984 and year 2000,there was functional local government areas in the country.

He stated that the era of IBB was not an exception in the area of robust local government administration in the land.

The misnomer, he stated, started in 1976 during Olusegun Obasanjo’s local government reform then.

He added: “That is why when we wanted to start this campaign we went to him in advocacy ask him what is your vision for local government he said their vision is to have a very strong viral governance at that lev­el because Nigeria is a multi-nation within a nation”.

He emphasised the need for a polit­ical platform that will accommodate various interest, tribal sentiment and give hope and sense of involvement in governance

“This will enable people to see that local government was professionalise from 1976 when there was primary health care department headed by qualified medical doctors, “you have the works and infrastructure depart­ment, headed by a qualified engineers, certified, you have chartered accoun­tant superintending over the finances of local government.

“When we were have content pro­fessional in local government unfor­tunately, there leadership gap at the political leadership class.

“Because they have never been a credible election in any local govern­ment. What the governors were do­ing was to appoint political cronies what we have termed as coronation appointment and promotion of polit­ical jobers. That is why we must scrap so called state independent electoral commission that is not independent that has failed Nigeria in conducting a credible transparent and acceptable election”.

He said Nigeria must make local government the platform for policing evolution in the country.

The calling for financial, admin­istrative and political autonomy for local governments was important for Nigeria to grow its gross domestic product more and curb insecurity.

“We must make local governments financially, administratively and po­litically autonomous.

“We must consider community po­licing so that there must be guarding at the community level.

“Our policing policy should not be reactionary, but pre-emptive to be able to address insecurity.

“Our opinion is that the local gov­ernment must be the platform for po­licing evolution in Nigeria”, Olatunji said

The labour leader also called on the Federal Government to create a policy addressing unemployment at the local government level.

He called for the revival of the vo­cational skills acquisition department of local governments.

According to him, this will ensure that women and youths in the rural communities are trained and empow­ered.

“The vocational skills acquisition department across local governments has been erased systematically, over time.

“This level of government should be given adequate attention to ad­dress the needs of those in the rural settings.

“It will go a long way to improve livelihoods and ensure a better Nige­ria for everyone,“ Olatunji said.