The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has called on President Ahmad Bola Tinubu, to lead in the restoration of Local Government areas strength in Nigeria.
Senator Barau Jibrin also called for the returns of Local Government Chairmen Elections to the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, as a means of giving them powers of execution and decision-making.
Speaking while responding to a motion seeking for the restoration of local government powers in Nigeria, the Deputy Senate President, said the problems come from the fact that state governors control the Local Councils through various means.
He said, “We have seen when INEC was the one who was conducting Local Government elections, how vibrant they were, with even a Councillor awarding contracts and things were so OK then”.
”However, today the same Local Government Chairmen are there on the whims and caprices of the state governors who decide what happens because they are the ones who control their elections and money”.
“We are not happy and I believe nobody is happy with what is going on, that is why it has become a collective responsibility for us all to fight for the restoration of local governments in Nigeria.
”We need to see vibrant Councils that will provide for the economic well-being of the grassroots of the country.
“I believe that all of us are worried about what is happening, that is why I want Mr President who is a true Democrat, who believes in true Democratic norms and culture to lead in the restoration of local government powers in the country.
Return elections of local government chairmen to INEC – Senator Barau to Tinubu
