Nduka Eya, a seasoned politician and former INEC resident electoral commissioner, has urged Nigerians to refrain from vilifying governors in regard to local government administrative and financial autonomy, attributing the issue to the Constitution.
Mr. Eya conveyed this sentiment while speaking to reporters in Enugu on Sunday regarding significant national concerns.
He emphasized that the prevailing negative sentiment among Nigerians towards governors as the root of problems within council areas is misguided, asserting that the true source of the issue lies in the military’s unitary system of governance and the constitutional framework.
Drawing from his experience as a former permanent secretary overseeing council areas in the historical Anambra, Mr. Eya highlighted his understanding of the intricacies of council areas’ administration and financial operations. He defended the current governors, noting that the challenges faced by council areas are not of their making, but rather a legacy of the military’s approach to governance, which marginalized council areas for an extended period.
Moreover, he underscored the importance of regional governments in the 1960s that effectively utilized council and municipal authorities to drive development at the grassroots level, contrasting this with the current state of affairs.
Mr. Eya further criticized the constitution for failing to clearly define the powers and responsibilities of council areas, leaving them vulnerable to the whims of state and federal governments.
In a bid to address these longstanding issues, President Muhammadu Buhari issued an executive order in May 2020 to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary, legislature, and local government councils.
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