The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, has backed the move by the Federal Government to free local governments from the control of state governors.
Head, Information and Public Relations, RMAFC, Maryam Umar Yusuf, said the position was canvassed by its Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Bello Shehu.
Shehu, according to the statement, observed that LGAs as the third tier of government domesticated at the grassroots level, ought to be outside the control of state and federal governments as they are solely established to ensure effective governance at the grassroot.
“The Constitution of Nigeria recognizes federal, states, and local governments as three tiers of government and that the three recognized tiers of government draw funds for their operation and function from the Federation Account created by the Constitution”, he added.
Mr. Shehu decried state governments’ dominance over the affairs of LGAs which “emasculate their political, administrative and fiscal independence hence their inability to provide quality service delivery in the area of infrastructure and social services to the grassroot as provided for in the Constitution”.
He noted that the political control of LGAs has made it virtually difficult and almost impossible for the masses to decide who becomes their leader at that level of governance, which is closest to the people.
He added that the Commission “is of the opinion that giving full autonomy to LGAs will reduce the rate of poverty and rural urban migration, and bring more dividends of democracy to the people just as it will attract more qualified candidates for council elections that will improve governance system at all levels in the long run.
“Full autonomy will engender good governance, transparency and accountability at the local level.
Security challenges like banditry, kidnappings, terrorism, electoral violence, etc, would be reduced to the barest minimum if the quantum of funds meant for local governments is channeled towards rural development.”
He added: “This will raise agricultural productivity, increase income generation, arrest rural-urban migration, create wealth and generally improve the socio-economic living conditions of the rural populace”.
The Chairman posited that the current spate of insecurity in all parts of the country could be arrested if LGAs are granted full autonomy as local government administration being the closest level of government for effective participation of the teeming population of the country in its governance system would avail the local population greater independence to determine their development needs.
Mr. Shehu emphasized the importance of granting full autonomy to LGCs, allowing them to recruit, manage staff, raise finances, make bye-laws and discharge their functions without State government interference, thereby ensuring their full bureaucratic autonomy.
“Financial autonomy of local government entails the freedom to impose local taxation, generate revenue within its assigned sources, allocate its financial and material resources, determine and authorize its annual budgets without external interference. It also relates to the disposition of tax powers, retention of revenue and methods adopted in sharing centrally collected revenue in accordance with the constitutional responsibilities of all levels of government,” he maintained.
Credit: Vanguard
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