Gov. Fayemi and His Campaign against Local Government Autonomy By Olaogun Michael

The recent and vehement campaign by the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) against the Local Government autonomy is suspicious and calls for great concern by all and sundry at the time Nigeria needs solutions from all the forms of avoidable tragedies that have brought her to her knees. 

Fayemi had on different occasions argued against the “non-existence” of Local Government. In his recent conversation on the Channels television, he claimed that the constitution of Nigeria does not recognize LGA as the third tier; “Local Government is not a tier of government, but an administrative vehicle…” He further argued that “federalism is a two-tier government.”

Contrary to his opinion, sections 7, 8, and 162(3-8) of the 1999 Constitution as amended gave due recognition to the existence, funding, and administrative management of the Local Government. If the local government is not a tier of government (the third) legally recognized, the constitution would not have stipulated it to be drawing allocation from the federation account. More so, the Revenue Allocation Formula (RAF) will not have specifically mentioned local government as it clearly stated.

While the Constitution may not have been a perfect document as argued by many, the claim by Fayemi on the non-existence of the Local Government in the constitution is laughable and possibly suspicious. His claim has given further insights into how the elites, particularly those in the political class are desperate to illegally make good governance to be a difficult and non-practicable thing in Nigeria.

Fayemi is an individual that many hold in high esteem as an activist, a political scientist, and a scholar with sound civil society background, but his recent claims with no scientific backup on the issues bothering the Local Government autonomy have given many rooms on the need to become very cautious on his purported presidential ambition and the likely trajectories that may follow.

His claims on the subject matter are a threat to the relentless effort of the Civil Society Organizations, the National Assembly, and the citizens of Nigeria in the demand and drive for the autonomy of the Local government from the high handedness of the state governors.

Many pieces of research have shown how the autonomy of local government can help improve in the discharge of good governance to the citizens, particularly in the state of insecurity in Nigeria, but how Fayemi got this conversation from the opposite direction with continuous reecho continues to beat the imagination of many. And one may not be wrong to say that Fayemi is probably projecting the opinion of the community he chairs, the Nigerian Governors Forum. 

In the past, attempts to strengthen institutions have always met resistance in the hand of Governors. The autonomy of state legislatures and the judiciary is no doubt a perfect example. The much effort by the National Assembly and other stakeholders to amend the constitution, particularly on the subject may suffer setbacks at the state levels as the governors may contest whatever may challenge their political and administrative strength in the amendment exercise through their political appendages, the states houses of assembly.  

 

We grew up to know how effective and efficient the local government was in meeting basic social needs at the grassroots’ of which Fayemi can testify, how come they are now all dead? Many questions are really begging for answers and Nigerians will make demands at the most appropriate time. No doubt, the past and present governors have collectively mortgaged the destiny of Local Government administration.

Funny enough, Fayemi recently restructured the Local Development Areas he established during his first tenure as a Governor, which alluded to the fact that governance must be made taken closer to the people, which of course is still a subject of constitutionalism. If the Local Government is not recognized as he views it, then we should ask why he created new LCDAs.

While Fayemi may have other ideas on local administration as he has done in Ekiti state, it is very important that he should recognize what the supreme law of Nigeria says as there are countries in Africa where Local Government is practicable, possibly with different nomenclatures.  

Meanwhile, in his statement, a revered political scholar, Professor F.A Aremu opined that; “what Dr. Fayemi and his apologists don't get is the crucial distinction between local government and local governance. They are related but different. Governor Fayemi, in referring to town unions and other informal (non-state) local governance actors is talking about local governance actors, not local government per se.”

On the issue of financial administration which is cardinal to the autonomy of the local government, one cannot but recognize the error in the 1999 constitution as amended to be the state-local government Joint Allocation Account (JAAC) which the governors have taken as an avenue to overrun the local government. Presently, most local governments in Nigeria are dead and the buildings have become a habitable places for reptiles as little or no activities are going on.

One cannot but also exonerate the Federal Government from the misfortune of the local government. The occasional moves by the FG to take over the statutory duties of the local government are also condemnable.

Nigerians must at this time rise to the demand for what is right and just, particularly on ensuring the demand for the autonomy of the local government is secured for grassroots to witness improved governance. Otherwise, the state of things in Nigeria will continue to degenerate as threats to life and properties may escalate as seen in most parts of the country.

Olaogun Michael is a Public Affairs Analyst.

michaelolaogun2014@gmail.com