CSO Proposes Ways To Retool Local Governments For Efficiency In Open Letter To NASS, INEC

The Cultural and Societal Value Development Initiative (CSVDI) on Thursday provided recommendations for strengthening the nation’s democracy and for retooling local governments in the country for efficiency.

The CSO also emphasized the need to make ‘local government autonomy’ achieve its desired outcomes while emphasizing importance of party supremacy.

 CSVDI has come up with an open letter in this respect and the letter in question is meant for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Assembly.

Chairman of the CSO, Prof. Samuel Ibiyemi, and the Secretary, Rev. Gabriel Olaoye,  jointly presided over a press conference in Ilorin on Thursday during which they talked about what is contained in the letter in question and the changes that would ensure a more accountable and effective local government system capable of driving socio-economic development in the country.

The press conference was attended by journalists including Team@orientactualmags.com.

Welcoming the recent Supreme Court ruling that gave autonomy to the third tier of government, the CSO also commended the role played by the federal government in this respect while declaring support for the plans by the National Assembly to review it comprehensively.

 Recall that the Supreme Court of Nigeria  had on July 11, 2024,  made decisive decisions on local government administration in the country which include limiting the involvement of the state governors.

The apex court had also taken their hands off the local government funds and the  running of the third tier of government by declaring that it is unconstitutional for them to interfere and get involved in how the local government funds are utilized.

CSVDI asserted that if importance is attached to the recommendations contained in its letter, this will get the local government administration in the country repositioned for efficiency.

In the recommendations and suggestions contained in the open letter, the CSO said having the local government elections conducted solely by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will ensure transparency and fairness in the electoral process while criticizing the idea of having local government chairmen getting sworn in by the governors.

Elected local government chairmen and councilors, the group added, ought to be   sworn in by the head of the judiciary at the local government level in order to uphold the independence of the third tier of government.

 Noting that the present arrangement which has symbols and logos of parties on ballot papers rather than pictures of candidates and agents at the polling stations as agents of political parties and not for the candidates should be sustained and not rubbished, the CSO also emphasized the importance of party supremacy in maintaining checks and balances across all tiers of government.

‘Effective governance requires that party leadership holds power independently from executive leadership’ Professor  Ibiyemi submitted.

‘Party supremacy is a general matter for the three tiers of government, it is highly fundamental because it guarantees separation of power and responsibility for checks and balance that guarantees efficiency in the performance of the executive in particular that is saddled with great responsibility to execute policies endorsed by the legislature. Prevailing situation so far in which the president and governors assume leadership of parties violates the provision for the party organs to serve as the one that will monitor and check the executive. We believe that by the time the party executive performs the role of the leader with the control of the executive it will be to the advantage of the country’ the group said.

CSVDI also called for a more defined role for the traditional rulers and community development associations in  respect of local government administration-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you