Ex-Benue commissioner accuses governors of interfering with the role of the LG administration.
In a recent statement, former Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Benue, Mr John Tondu, has urged Nigerians to amplify the President's efforts in demanding accountability from state governments for restoring functionality to the third tier of government - the local councils.
Tondu believes that full autonomy for local governments is the only lasting solution to Nigeria's security challenges. He argues that functional local councils with proper funding and grassroots intelligence capacity would provide a more effective solution to insecurity.
However, Tondu cautions against handing security control to governors, as many lack the temperament to manage such responsibility without abusing it. He asserts that deliberately stifling grassroots governance leaves communities vulnerable to violent attacks and criminal activities.
The President, according to Tondu, has secured a judgment granting autonomy to the local government system through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. Yet, he notes that state governors have continued to undermine the operations of local governments.
Tondu warns that the push for state police is just an excuse to hound political opponents and would destroy democracy if allowed. He concludes that in a democracy, the President cannot compel governors to obey the court's decision, and it is now up to citizens to take up the fight for local government autonomy.
The article has recently published articles on various topics, including Agriculture, Health, Education, Features, and a collaboration between the Budget and Planning Service of the Republic (BPSR) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to train elected governors on good governance. However, the individuals who committed to this training through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BPSR and UNILAG are not specified in the available information.
Tondu states that until the people demand local government autonomy, insecurity will persist due to a broken system at the base. He points out that both the Benue and Nasarawa governments have roles to play in the lingering attacks, but local governance failure remains the core issue.
If governors decide to end insecurity, Tondu states that it could be achieved, as the ineffectiveness of the third tier of government (local government) is a major factor in the country's insecurity. This article was edited by Sadiya Hamza.
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