Nigeria’s ex President Olusegun Obasanjo has blamed state governors for making the Local Government system in Nigeria “impotent” through constant meddling and interference.
Obasanjo spoke when 60 members of the National Union of Local Government Employees(NULGE) came to him for help on Tuesday.
NULGE National President, Ibhraheem Khaleel, complained bitterly. According to him, state governors and governments have “completely rendered the Local Governments impotent and battered it through massive encroachment, diversion of funds and non implementation of rules establishing them(LGAs).”
Replying, Obasanjo said there’s nothing he could do to change things.
“Coming to me or me saying something is not the answer,” he said. “I’m like a cripple. I have no executive power. I have no legislative power, but you are not crippled and you can show them that you are on ground. Local Government should be allowed to carry out its function.
“But I wonder, if the states can allow what they are doing to the Local Governments to be done to them by the Federal Government.
“Sadly, very very sadly, the autonomy of the Local Governments almost without any exception, havr been bastardized and encroached by the States.
” Both are suppose to be tiers of government with each having its roles and functions. But, that is not the case.
We shall continue to talk until those who reasonable among change this attitude.”
The Nation
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