As the local government areas in the country begin to get their monthly funds directly from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), a former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has stressed the need for adequate oversight structures to check possible abuse and ensure citizens truly benefit at grassroots level.
Olawepo-Hashim said this while commending the Supreme Court judgement, which bars the federal government from sending local government allocations to State Governments, but directly to the LGAs.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Supreme Court had on Thursday declared that it is unconstitutional for State governors to hold onto funds meant for local government (LG) administrations.
In its lead judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court observed that the refusal of state governments to allow financial autonomy for local governments has gone on for over two decades.
However, Olawepo-Hashim counselled that accountability structures including the Local Government Legislative Assemblies, should be strengthened to ensure that adequate oversight exists to ensure that local government funds that would now go directly to the LGAs were not subject to abuse, but truly benefits the citizens of the local government area level.
“We have a real opportunity for development to resume at the local government levels”, Olawepo-Hashim said, adding that “with the Supreme Court landmark Judgement, but only when we put up structures to ensure that these funds do not become the personal purse of certain individuals.”
The former presidential candidate added that “with these development, LGA’s should be able to pay attention to community policing, which is urgent and crucial in view of nation wide insecurity; Intra ward and neighborhood public transportation; regular grading of local roads to ensure easy movement of farm produce ; Primary and rural health services, Children early education etc etc.”
According to him, “Let’s ensure the real people benefit from this Judgement and that the Judgement does not create new local emperors from the LGAs treasury.
“On the face of it, the Supreme court’s Judgement is a good step in the consolidation of Nigeria’s democracy!”
