The NFIU directive also imposed a daily N500,000 cash transaction limit on all the 774 local councils in the country...The governors saw the guidelines as an affront and vehemently kicked against it. NFIU Nigeria Corruption WarAgainstCorruption Buhari
with statutory allocation accruing to local councils from the Federation Account. The guidelines titled ‘NFIU enforcement and guidelines to reduce crime vulnerabilities created by cash withdrawal from Local Government funds throughout Nigeria’, took effect on June 1, 2019.
“In principle, the NFIU should concentrate on its core mandate of anti-money laundering activities and combating financing terrorism as prescribed in the Act establishing it. It should desist from encroaching on or even breaching constitutional provisions. The NFIU is the Nigerian arm of the Global Financial Intelligence Units. It was once domiciled within the EFCC, but now, for the purpose of institutional location, it is domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“It will also trigger increased tempo of activities at the local government level with the best hands attracted to come on board. Grassroots development will be enhanced as more funds become available for critical infrastructures and other services. Indeed a new era is born.” A resident of Ado local government in the state capital, Mr Gbenga Ibitoye, observed that as the tier of government closer to the grassroots, the local governments were supposed to assist in the maintenance of roads linking communities but said residents contribute to maintain roads, culverts and drainage channels despite the claim by the council chairmen that they now have appreciable control of their allocations. To him, the local governments have become shadows of themselves.
Another council chairman, who craved anonymity, said the councils still operated a joint account with the state, but revealed that they had separate accounts where the monthly allocations were being remitted. The issue of financial autonomy for local councils is still shrouded in secrecy in Rivers State. It is not very clear if the local government chairmen are truly in charge of their funds as none of them was bold enough to disclose the true state of things.
According to Lahteh, “in Rivers State, we have always had access to funds and we have been delivering on our duties, carrying out projects that impact the lives of our people.” It was gathered that the Akuku-Toru local government chairman, Rowland Sekibo, was carrying out empowerment projects like women empowerment, payment of schools fees and currently building a mini stadium for the people as well payment of electricity bills. Many residents told The Guardian that they were not convinced that those things were the basic needs of the people.
“The local council chairmen see the state governors as their godfathers, as the person who made it possible for them to be in the position, forgetting that this would have provided them the opportunity to key into seeing that the autonomy of the local government areas is preserved and that funds allocated directly to them would be used to provide quality services to the people.”
Also speaking, the Chancellor of International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, , Omenazu Jackson, said most people at the grassroots were very docile and so do not ask questions on how their funds were being utilised. Omenazu encouraged Nigerians who get bullied when they ask questions on the usage of local government funds not to be deterred but to continue until the right things are done.The Plateau State government under the current administration has conducted local government elections in 13 local councils while four local councils remain under the management of caretaker committees.
Speaking on the need for full financial autonomy for local governments, a retired state public servant, Mr. Daniel Azi Lungs, said the easiest way to achieve that and ensure that they function effectively was through devolution of powers and decentralisation of local government administration. Lungs argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission and not the State Independent Electoral Commission should conduct local government elections. “By so doing, this will give room for free, fair and credible elections at the grassroots.
The Guardian gathered that the financial autonomy has enhanced governance in all the 13 local government areas of the state with developmental projects springing up in the localities. The local councils have been executing joint projects with the state government in the areas of road construction, health care delivery and markets development, among others.
Uduma thanked Governor David Umahi for providing the enabling environment for local councils in the state to function properly, emphasising that the state government does not tamper with local government funds. However, the caretaker committee chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government Area, Rahman Olanrewaju Adepoju, told The Guardian that for local councils to function properly, they must be run in compliance with the constitution. “The local government areas in Nigeria are not being run as the constitution spelt it. So, I think we should make use of our constitution to direct the affairs of local government as it supposed to be,” he said.
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