From Lateef Taiwo

Members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review concluded it’s two-day retreat on the amendments to the 1999 constitution on Saturday evening in Kano and unanimously agreed to include full autonomy for local governments in the nation’s legal document.

The federal lawmakers however expressed divergent views on the issue of state police.

Senators from the South-East and South- South geopolitical zones at the forum, advocated the creation of additional states.

The legislators bared their minds at the sidelines of the Retreat which was organised by the Senate panel in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).

Their decision to save the third tier of government from total collapse following the abuse of their roles by the state governors, may not be unconnected to the recent Supreme Court verdict and the pledge by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, that the National Assembly would tinker with the constitution to legalise their full autonomy.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; a former Chief Whip of the red chamber, Ali Ndume; Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa; Senators Abdulfatai Buhari, Osita Izunaso and Ned Nwoko in their various submissions insisted that full autonomy for local governments was long overdue.

Bamidele noted that the current constitution placed the administration of local government in the hands of the state government but the exigencies of the current situation has made it necessary to make the third tier of government, completely independent.

He said, “The independence of the autonomy of our local governments cannot be taken away. The debate is ranging as to whether or not local government should be considered as a tier of government.

“Law is made for men and not men for law. Regardless of what is in our constitution, what is important is that certain realities have come to terms with us.

“So, if we’re talking about local government autonomy, the way some of us have looked at it, in the senate and in the National Assembly, is that we need to complement what the Supreme Court has said.

“The Supreme Court didn’t say anything that is not in our constitution. The Supreme court only gave it some further clarity.

“Arising from that, it’s also important that as much as possible, we also ensure that the fear that governors will not allow local governments to function can also be addressed through further tinkering with our constitution.

“For instance, a lot of stakeholders are concerned that for as long as local governments elections are conducted through state independent federal commissions, there could be a highway to nowhere.”

In his own submission, Osita Izunaso said arguments about possiblity of local government chairmen becoming too powerful to the extent of impeaching governors if granted full autonomy, does not holds water.

He said, “When we started in this country, local governments had full autonomy then and they were developing their areas. I believe in full autonomy of the local government.

“I am sure it is going to work. I don’t believe that LGs autonomy would empower council chairmen to impeach the governors. The fear does not arise and I don’t even believe in it.

“The governors have immense constitution powers. Only the state assembly can move against the governor. The council chairmen don’t have the power. Governors and council chairmen should face their work.”

Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, backed the position of the Senate Leader by saying the election of council chairmen and the councillors should be conducted by an independent body not constituted by state governments.

He said, “Local government autonomy could only be achieved if their elections are conducted by an independent body.