The National Association of Local Government Service Commissions in Nigeria (NALGSC) has decried the over-bearing influence of state governments in local government administration, with a call for the urgent abolition of the Joint Account System currently in operation.
The association also called for the setting up of Peer-review Mechanisms among the local government councils of the federation, using the Mo Ibrahim Governance Index (MGI).
These were part of the recommendations reached by the association after a three-day workshop in Abuja.
The workshop, which brought together chairmen of State Service Commissions nationwide, was declared open by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Other dignitaries at the well-attended event were the minister of Inter-Governmental Affairs, Dr. George Akume, as well as the governors of Benue and Nasarawa states, Dr. Samuel Ortom and Engr. Sule respectively.
The recommendations, which were part of the communique, include: better funding for local government councils; the granting of financial autonomy to the local governments and a review of the 1999 Constitution to remove the constitutional ambiguities whereby state assemblies continue to make laws for local government councils when the third tier of government has its elected legislatures.
The communique was jointly signed by the National Chairman of the Association, Dr. Bemsen Melladu, the Chairman of the Benue State Local Government Service Commission, and Hon. (Dr.) Aderemi Ayodele.
In a chat with newsmen after the workshop, Melladu drove home the point of the workshop by pointing out the quality of its recommendations.
His words: “Some of the calls emanating from this workshop are critical to the success of local government administration in Nigeria.
“For instance, we have recommended that the Ministry of Inter-Governmental Affairs expedite the institutionalisation of the National Council on Local Government Administration for the aggregation and harmonization of policies and programmes at the third tier of governance.”
“This will greatly impact on the quality and efficiency of local government administration.
“Another good point is the recommendation for the Ministry of Inter-Governmental Affairs to liaise with the Local Government Service Commissions with a view to harmonizing the scheme of service, the conditions of service and adequate provisions for the third tier of government to take effective charge of security at the local levels,” he added.
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