By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Alhaji Mohammed Onipe Aliyu, a prominent Management Consultant in Lokoja, kogi state,has advocated for the abolition of the Ministry of Local Government across Nigeria, following the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy,
In a statement he made available to The Reporters in Lokoja on Thursday,he said the Supreme Court’s decision would empower local government councils to fulfill their constitutional duties as the third tier of government.
Alhaji Aliyu expressed concern over the historically dominant influence of Executive Governors on local governments, which he argued had stifled development in these areas for decades.
The management expert emphasized that the Supreme Court’s reaffirmation of local government roles is a pivotal step towards enabling councils to drive local development and contribute meaningfully to national progress.
“It is unfortunate that until now, Governors have treated local councils as extensions of their offices, hampering their autonomy and development,” Aliyu he said.
Recalling past instances of corruption during periods of attempted autonomy, he stressed the need for vigilant oversight to prevent such abuses in the future.
To strengthen local government autonomy further, Aliyu urged the immediate abolition of the Ministry of Local Government, arguing that its existence perpetuates undue interference from Governors.
He noted that the Ministry, lacking constitutional legitimacy, duplicates the supervisory functions already vested in Local Government Service Commissions nationwide.
“The Ministry’s continued existence undermines the intended autonomy of local councils and abolishing it would streamline governance and empower local leaders to serve their communities effectively,” Aliyu,who runs
O & M Management Associate Limited, Lokoja, argued.
As discussions on local government reforms gain momentum,following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision, Aliyu said his proposal aimed to ensure that local governments nationwide can operate independently and contribute robustly to national development efforts.
