Kunle Adelabu
Residents of Ikorodu have reacted to the news that the Lagos State House of Assembly voted against the Local Government Financial Autonomy Bill, which is part of the issues in the ongoing constitutional amendments.
THE IMPACT gathered that about 20 states have so far voted on the amendments communicated to them by the National Assembly with Lagos State Assembly alleged to have voted against the amendment for an autonomy for Local Government.
The issue, which was brought on THE IMPACT platform at the weekend, generated reactions from residents of Ikorodu who demanded to know the reason the State Assembly voted against what Lagosians are clamouring for.
Participants on the platform also demanded to know how members of the Assembly voted on the issue.
It was also gathered that about 20 State Assemblies have so far voted on the bill with about 16 voting in favour of financial autonomy for LG, while Lagos, Ekiti and Benue States reportedly voted against and one state abstaining.
Mr Oke Godwin OlaOluwa, a financial expert and public commentator who brought the matter up, expressed his disappointment over the quietness on the matter and the report that Lagos Assembly voted against the LG autonomy.
“I was wondering why this wasn’t generating a lot of conversation. Probably because it is political season, people are being careful”, he said.
“I’d expected that the Lagos House of Assembly members would have considered the political season before arriving at this regressive and anti-people decision”.
He said that the Lagos Assembly betrayed the same purpose given for the creation of more councils 20 years ago.
“In 2003, when the LCDAs were to be formed in addition to LGAs, a major reason given for the formation was to bring governance closer to the grassroots. It’s 20 years now and that purpose has been roundly defeated”, Oke said.
“How does the Lagos caucus at the Federal House convince their colleagues to support an upgrade of the LCDAs to LGAs when the state Assembly has proven to be against accountability of the local governments. So sad”, he queried.
“If we get governance at the grassroofs right, we can build a better country”.
The holder of the individual and group record in the Guinness Book of World Record in Marathon Read Aloud Attempt, Mr Bayode Treasure Olawunmi, in his own reaction, demanded to know how the two representatives from Ikorodu and other 38 members of the Assembly voted on the matter.
“Who are those members who voted against LG’s autonomy in the Lagos State Assembly? I hope Hon SOB Agunbiade and Hon Saka Solaja are not among these enemies of the people”, he queried.
“Local Government should not only be financially autonomous, it should also be politically independent of State Government. INEC should be authorized to conduct LG elections instead of the shenanigans LASIEC displays every 3/4 years.
“Enough of rewarding cronies and allies; people who should not be anywhere near governance, with chairmanship, councilorship, and supervisorship offices. For the people at the grassroots to be free from oppression and taste the dividends of democracy, LGs must be autonomous in all ramifications devoid of any interference from State Governments”, he added.
Comrade Olalekan Biliamin – Oba, State Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN, contributing to the discourse, also queried the progressive nature of the State Assembly.
“Something is not connecting here. I think this was the similar situation we had during the Not Too Young to Run Bill’, the number one youth in the State recalled.
“Lagos shouldn’t be seen not supporting a progressive course”, he said.
Comrade Asoro Abubakri, the Coordinator, NYCN, Ikorodu West LCDA, said that the State Assembly, for voting against the autonomy, is creating more problems than solutions to the governance at the grassroots level.
“Of course, I cannot imagine that a state such as Lagos will take a back sit in asking for LG autonomy. It’s indirectly creating a problem it’s purporting to solve through creation of LCDAs’, Asoro said.
“We have to go back to ask questions from our representatives as suggested by Oke Godwin OlaOluwa.
“What informed the decision of the State Assembly and what was the stance of our own representatives, we never can tell, they may have a justification, some of us are ready to learn”, he added.
“But for someone like me, LG autonomy is sacrosanct”, the youth leader said while stating his own stance.
Another participant contributing, said that the Lagos Assembly voting against LG autonomy worked against the interest of Lagosians.
“Political season or not, I expected the Lagos Assembly to have changed its stance concerning the LG administration in the state. We cannot achieve anything at the grassroots with the councils under the state govt. Majority of Lagosians are advocating for LG autonomy and do not want to believe that members of our Assembly voted against our wishes’, he said.
“Beyond SOB and NS, the entire Lagos State House of Assembly owe Lagosians explanation for voting against the entire residents of this great state”
