L.G. Autonomy: Federal Government Should Provide Adequate Funding for Local Government Councils
From Samson Alfa, Minna.
The Lavun Youth Congress (LYC) in Niger State recently held a brainstorming forum to discuss challenges affecting the development of local government areas. This forum, focused specifically on local government autonomy, took place at the Bologi Events Centre in Bida.
At the fifth LYC forum, participants expressed differing opinions regarding the successful implementation of autonomy at the local government level, with some attributing potential challenges to corruption. Some attendees raised concerns that certain local government councils might operate at a deficit and struggle to pay salaries, while others expressed optimism that autonomy would help reduce rural-urban migration and promote balanced development in rural communities.
In his speech at the forum, the chief host and former Lavun Local Government Chairman, Alh. Abubakar Dauda Kutigi, shared his experiences during his tenure.
He noted that despite receiving direct allocations from the federation account, the funds were insufficient to cover salaries. He explained that, at that time, the government had to seek additional funding from other local governments to supplement what was received from the federation account.
Kutigi urged the current government, under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to take proactive measures to address the funding inadequacies faced by some local government councils in the country to ensure their self-sustainability.
In his address, the Secretary of the Lavun Youth Congress, Mohammed Musa Ma-Ali, emphasized that the LYC is a socio-economic and political organization dedicated to promoting unity and peaceful coexistence among the youth of Lavun Local Government, regardless of their religious or political affiliations.
At the event, the Chairman of the Lavun Youth Congress, Mohamed Abdullahi, reiterated the LYC’s commitment to peace, unity, and development to improve governance and the well-being of the local government.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Zonal Manager of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Alh. Mohammed Baba Busu, highlighted the importance of the forum, stating that it promotes ideas that enhance development and good governance in rural communities.
