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Ikenna Ngere
Guest
The Senate has collectively agreed to push for local government autonomy within the constitution, yet the debate on forming state police forces to handle insecurity remains unresolved.
At a retreat organized by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) in Kano, Senators from the Southeast and South-South zones further advocated for the creation of additional states to address regional imbalances.
Their push for local government autonomy comes amidst concerns over state governors’ interference in local government affairs.
The Supreme Court’s recent verdict, alongside Senate President Godswill Akpabio‘s pledge to amend the constitution, supports this initiative to safeguard local governments from overreach by state governors.
Senators, including Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, former Chief Whip Ali Ndume, and others, voiced their belief that local government independence is overdue.
Bamidele explained that while the current constitution places local government administration under state authority, the present circumstances demand full autonomy.
He said, “The independence of the autonomy of our local governments cannot be taken away. The debate is raging as to whether or not local government should be considered as a tier of government.
“Law is made for men and not men for law. Regardless of what is in our constitution, what is important is that certain realities have come to terms with us.
“So, if we’re talking about local government autonomy, the way some of us have looked at it, in the Senate and the National Assembly, is that we need to complement what the Supreme Court has said.
“The Supreme Court didn’t say anything that is not in our constitution. The Supreme Court only gave it some further clarity.
“Arising from that, it’s also important that as much as possible, we also ensure that the fear that governors will not allow local governments to function can also be addressed through further tinkering with our constitution.
“For instance, a lot of stakeholders are concerned that for as long as local governments elections are conducted through state independent federal commissions, there could be a highway to nowhere.”
In his view, Osita Izunaso rejected claims that granting local government chairmen full autonomy could lead to them impeaching governors, insisting that such concerns are without foundation.
He noted that similar fears had no basis, as council chairmen lack the constitutional authority to impeach governors.
Izunaso said, “When we started in this country, local governments had full autonomy then and they were developing their areas. I believe in the full autonomy of the local government.
“I am sure it is going to work. I don’t believe that LG autonomy would empower council chairmen to impeach the governors. The fear does not arise and I don’t even believe in it.
“The governors have immense constitutional powers. Only the state assembly can move against the governor. The council chairmen don’t have the power. Governors and council chairmen should face their work.”
Senator Abdulfatai Buhari called for an independent body to conduct local government elections to avoid state-level interference.
He said, “Local government autonomy could only be achieved if their elections are conducted by an independent body.
“If that is not done, states will continue to siphon their money, through threats, through blackmail.
“If I just put you there as local government chairman, as the governor, definitely you will be answerable to me, but if I am contesting my election people’s eyes will be on me and what I am able to perform, you can’t force me to take the money to the governor.
“If we want that Supreme Court judgement to hold water, we should expunge from the Constitution, that aspect of Joint Account.”
Senator Sani Musa echoed this sentiment, asserting that restructuring efforts must empower local governments to function independently, thereby allowing governance to truly reach the grassroots.
He said, “When you are talking about restructuring, we should be able to give the local governments the autonomous power to be able to run their administration from the grassroots level so that the impact of governance can reach the grassroots.”
Senator Ned Nwoko, also underscored the importance of revitalizing local governments, stating that their near-collapse undermines governance at the grassroots.
He emphasized that local government autonomy would allow them to manage local security, healthcare, and other essential services effectively.
However, senators remained divided over the concept of state police.
Some argued that establishing state police forces would enhance security, while others feared that governors might exploit these forces to target political opponents.
Senator Sani Musa supported state police, believing it would help address insecurity, while Senator Ali Ndume opposed the idea, warning that state governors could abuse this power and instead advocated for boosting the national police force’s manpower and welfare.
Senator Sani Musa who supported the idea said, “When we are talking about State Police, every state in this country is facing one insecurity or the other and I believe that if we look at the issue of State Police, it is good for us.”
However, Senator Ali Ndume said, “What we need is to increase the manpower of the police and improve their welfare for effective policing. State Police would be abused by the governors.”
The conversation also touched on the creation of additional states.
Senators Osita Izunaso and Ned Nwoko, representing the Southeast and South-South zones, highlighted the need for state creation in their regions.
Izunaso called for the establishment of an additional state in the Southeast, citing regional inequity, while Nwoko reiterated long-standing calls for the creation of Anioma State in the South-South.
Izunaso said, “The most important agenda the South East Caucus in the National Assembly has is to push for equity and justice.
“We need an additional state in the South East so that we come to terms with other zones in the country that all have six each.
“A situation where the South East has five states when others have six does not go well for balancing. I believe that our colleagues from other zones will see the reason why we need the state to support us.
“There are bills in that regard. For instance, I have my own Bill for the creation of Orlu State. There are two other bills from our colleague for the creation of two other states. We are going to sit back as a zone and harmonise our positions.”
Nwoko said, “The Anioma State creation for me is something that has to be done, if that is the only state that is created in this period, I will not be surprised.
“Agitation for Anioma State had been going on for almost 50 years, it is the oldest agitation for a state.”
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