Owerri
The Imo state Assembly has voted against the financial autonomy of local government.
The Assembly committee, led by Hon Uche Oguwuike, set up to look into 13 alterations of the Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the 1999 constitution, particularly rejected to approve alterations 5 and 6, which seek to give financial teeth to the local government system.
During consideration of the Bill by the Committee of the Whole session, majority of the lawmakers voted against the bill, giving support to the joint local/state government joint account/project, and rejecting local government autonomy.
Reacting to the rejection, the Minority Leader of the Assembly and member representing Ahiazu Mbaise constituency, Hon Ichie Ken Agbim, exonerated himself from the outcome and made it clear that local government autonomy was capable of bringing development to the people.
He recalled that, before now, there were tractors and other machineries used by local governments to grade roads and develop local government councils; as well as farmlands with palm fronds and local palm milling machines, which brought employment and money to the people.
He said LGAs should be able to do things without recourse to state governments, explaining however, that as a lone voice he was overwhelmed by the voting pattern of the House on the sensitive issue.
“When power goes to the people they would be able to question LG chairman. My area has serious erosion and road problems and they are begging for repairs. This will not help democracy but hamper it. The biggest airport in America was built by a local authority.
“Its autonomy would have afforded the LGAs opportunities to create jobs. I know governors would not like to okay this bill because of their interests. This has happened in Imo state. I don’t know what will happen in other states because other state assemblies also need to vote on the alterations to get the required majority,” he lamented.
