Local Govt. Autonomy : I Can Not Help You, Obasanjo Tells NULGE

I wish I could help, but I am helpless.” Obasanjo stated this while receiving the leadership of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees,who paid him a courtesy call at his Presidential Hilltop in Abeokuta,Ogun State Capital.

Abeokuta-‎Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday, lamented the alleged poor treatment of 774 local governments by the states in the country, declaring, “I wish I could help, but I am helpless.” Obasanjo stated this while receiving the leadership of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees,who paid him a courtesy call at his Presidential Hilltop in Abeokuta,Ogun State Capital.

The former President said the situation in the country’s councils is such that they have been bastardized, battered and encroached upon badly, contrary to the vision and mission of creating the third-tier of government in 1976.

 Obasanjo who met with the visiting leadership of the NULGE led by the National President, Comr. Ibraheem Khaleel described the treatment being meted out to local government in Nigeria by State Governors as barbaric which he said needs to be addressed for the councils to forge ahead.

 Obasanjo who queried the rationale behind states governments dominance on local government especially on financial matters,noting that the third tier of government has been encroached upon by state governors.

 Obasanjo noted that until local government reform was carried out in 1976, local governments had no defined functions, responsibilities and allocations. He said “sadly and very very sad that the state authority is almost, without an exemption has encroached and bastardized local governments and take it away from where it is supposed to be. “Why this is to be condemned in clear terms is that it will be unfair for the federal government to do the states governments what they are doing to the local governments . 

Meanwhile the state government will not accept it and in fact, it will be unconstitutional for the federal government to do the same to the states governments. “So, I can only appeal to the good sense of those who have good sense among the States leaders and to our lawmakers both at the national and state levels to observe the sanctity and the constitutionality that establishe the local governments. 

“Running to me is not the answer,I am like a cripple, I have no executive or legislative power,but let those who have ears hear. Local government is supposed to be functioning as third tier of government. I beg the authorities to use all power in their command to persuade,cajole to let local governments carry out its responsibilities. “In 1976,we carry out local governments reform,because until that time local governments had no definite structure,no direct allocation from the national purse.

 He added that it would be a negative development if the federal government decided to treat the state governments the same way states are treating local governments across the country. Obasanjo told his guests that,running to him was not the solution,but would try his best possible to convinced those in power to rise up to the challenges,so that the councils would not go into oblivion. 

Earlier in his speech, President of NULGE called on the former President to use his influence and his wealth of experience in guiding state governors across the country to the right path. He stated that state governments have encroached on their resources and it has affected the running of local government administration across the country.