I have read in some quaters of the social media that a cross section of local government chairmen who have been supposedly indicted and suspended by the 10th Benue State House of Assembly for being complicit in the ravaging corruption at the third tier of government in Benue Stare,bothering on misappropriation,misapplication,diversion and brazen embezzlement of local government finances /resources within the period under review by the State Assembly,and who in turn have issued a statement yesterday,stating among other things,that that they would not comply with the suspension order,directive and its implementation by the Benue State Government.
Drawing from the above, I wish to utterly state that the above disposition and character by the indicted local government chairmen is thoughtless,injudicious,ill-considered,delinquent and remiss!!!
I wish to clarify and enlighten all the indicted local government chairmen,and as of fact, that in every liberal democracy worldwide ,the local government system as the third tier of government occupies and plays a fundamental role in determining the trajectories and ambit of grassroots re-engineering and transformative processes,by virtue of its close propinquity and contiguity to the people in rural areas.
Suffice to mention,that the disability and incapacitation of any local government system in a state is as good as the non-existence of a state. Hence,such a scenario would translate into placing the people at the grassroots at mercy of hopelessness,despair,squalor,misery and stark economic impotence in a globalizing world where local government structures have become sources of celebration and epicenters for national planning and development.
Thus it must be stated that there is no responsible political leader who would not take upon him or herself to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the local government system,if given the opportunity to govern either a local government chairman,a Governor or President as the case may be. To Governor Hyacinth Alia,his is to chart a reviving cause for the local government system in Benue State. And in doing so,he deems it necessarily timely and significant to retrospectively and introspectively take stock of obvious challenges that have stifled the local government system in his state,with a view to pragmatically realign and strengthen the functional credibility,viability and sustainability of the third tier of government, while at the same build public trust,confidence and support for the system.
As curious and cogent as the above standpoint of Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia assumes top priority in his administration as the 6th democratically elected Executive Governor,with all sense of patriotic instincts,the Governor is therefore,duty bound to ensure that the incremental values of local governments do not elude Benue State,and her people by doing everything possible to achieve the goals of an effective local government system. There is no gainsaying that the local government system in Benue State has been afflicted and beleaguered with horrible cases of financial and administrative recklessness, which altogether have asphyxiated the quintessence and existence of the system. For example,in Benue State ,it is sad to note that the some elected local governments chairmen in under the immediate past state administration of Samuel Ortom have been caught up in some grave circles of financial conspiracies to betray public trust,accountability and service delivery to the detriment of the electorate. It is alleged that some of such elected local government chairmen during the immediate past PDP led state government have claimed in theory,and signed in practice,that they collected over 400 million Naira as monthly federal allocations on behalf of their local governments. However,in practice they in turn agreed that only 50 Million Naira was actually released to them by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. This leaving the balance of 350 million Naira unaccounted for. In fact,the preponderance of overpricing,over invoicing,tax evasion,overpayment,underpayment,concealments of financial facts and figures,etc,took the centre stage in the life of local government administration and management by local government chairmen under suspension.
Drawing from the above, it must be noted that the time,priority and proactive courage by Governor Hyacinth Alia to reposition the capsizing status of local governments in Benue State,with a view to engendering public confidence,trust,self reliability and sustainability for purposes of an effective and beneficial inter-governmental relations as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution is uncompromising and CAN NEVER BE BETTER THAN NOW!!
In justification of the action by the Benue State House of Assembly over the recommendation for the immediate suspension of local government chairmen who served in the immediate past government for the period under review, it is indeed,doubtless that the members of the assembly acted within the constitutional powers granted to State Assemblies as contained in the 1999 Constitution of Nigerian. The 1999 Constitution has emphasized that local governments as third tier of government,nonetheless remains a creation by state the government through the instrumentality of the State Houses of Assembly. By this provision,it is common knowledge that,the creation,control,composition,functions,and expenditure of local governments are largely determined by the state government through the state houses of assembly.
Therefore,it is ridiculous to hear that some local government chairmen who have been indicted and found wanting under the outgone administration are trying to evade the full arms of justice, to the extent of threatening the Benue State House of Assembly over a critical oversight function and decision she took as part of her legislative responsibilities to the people of Benue State.
But let it be remembered by all and sundry that at the inauguration of the 10th Benue State House of Assembly,the Executive Governor of Benue State poignantly emphasized the need for patriotism by elected members of the state assembly. In his remarks,Governor Alia stated as thus:” you are elected as agents of change and hope and I believe this will guide every of your step in the legislative business,oversight functions and all other functions”.
It is instructive to note that,by virtue of this charge and in his subsequent approval for suspension of all indicted local government chairmen,Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia has absolutely demonstrated his respect for the rule of law,and for the principle of separation of powers and checks and balances to as essential ingredients for democratic governance,justice,fairness,equity,transparency and confidence by his administration.
Conclusively,It is therefore,our informed advice that,the suspended local government chairmen should,without delay,obey the decisions of both the Benue State of Assembly and the Benue State Executive arm of government respectively.
Moreover,the action recommended by the Benue State House of Assembly for them is that of suspension and not sack. Such that where and when it is necessary for anyone of them to be called back,the government would not hesitate to do so.
-Dr. Mkor Aondona –
