Mohammed Shosanya
The Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC has warned against sabotage of the implementation of Thursday’s Supreme verdict which gives full autonomy to local government areas in the country.
“We urge that all necessary measures be taken that this judgment is not sabotaged at the implementation stage”,Comrade Joe Ajaero,President of the labour group said in a statement,wherein he mentioned the conduct of elections at local governments.
According to him,the true freedom of local governments must also come from those who govern them.
He asked:”Should State Independent Electoral Commissionbe allowed to conduct ‘elections’ or should NEC take over (even as they are over-burdened and are not exactly the best example)? Should there be regulatory agency or commission with an oversight over SIECs? We will find the devil in the details through a stake-holder conversation?”
He reasoned that freedom of local governments will be nothing if those who will take charge, end up behaving badly like their predecessors in power.
He also emphasized the need for a self-purgation or a national rebirth as laws or court pronouncements alone may not be enough.
Commending the Supreme Court of Nigeria for restoring power to the Local Governments, Ajaero said the verdict directing that financial allocations be made directly to Local Governments as well as divesting state governments of power to remove local government executives is both courageous and salubrious.
He maintained that the Supreme Court through the landmark judgment has not only restored our democracy but possibly hope in the democracy.
He added:”Not a few believe the stunted national growth or development and the overwhelming surge in crimes and threats to our collective good is directly tied to the seizure and paralysis of local governments by state governments.
