Aregbesola Tasks New LG/LCDAs Exc.Secretaries To Mobilize People For Development
Osun state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola has described the call for local government autonomy in Nigeria as irrelevant and an unnecessary debate.
He said under true federalism, power is shared between federal and state government, while local government remains an integral part of the state.
Aregbesola stated this while swearing in the 67 newly appointed executive secretaries of local government and local council development authorities in the state, today in Osogbo, the state capital.
He held that Federalism is a constitutional arrangement in which power is shared between the units of government and the central government in which the sphere of authority of each is clearly delineated.
The Governor also added that federating units therefore are the states of the federation and the federal government, making only states and central government the federating partners.
He emphasised that the federal government is not superior to the states and not a supervising authority to the states, just primus inter pares, the first among equals.
According to him, "Local Governments on the other hand, are not federating partners and therefore do not have direct relationship with the Federal Government.
"It is a subversion of the federal principle for the Federal Government or any federal institution or agency to begin to undercut states and forge direct relationship with the Local Government. Understanding this point is important in defining the autonomy of the local government.
The Local Government is an integral part of a state and its autonomy therefore is definable within the state. I agree and support therefore the notion of its autonomy in this light.
"The Local Government should be not be shackled; it should be empowered to operate freely within its domain. It should have a wide latitude of responsibilities, control and operation within its jurisdiction.
"We have had challenges and abuse. Some states have turned their councils into cash cows. While the constitution requires states to guarantee a democratic system in the local government, this has also been subverted into state’s fiefdom. But we cannot throw out the baby with the bath water.
"The principle of federalism is important and we cannot sacrifice this on the altar of convenience. If there are abuses, let us address it, but don’t let us undermine federalism." The Governor told the gathering.
Aregbesola speaking on Local Government autonomy queried "why do some people demand autonomy at the local government? " noted that the answer is not far-fetched.
The Governor held that the councils too want to go Abuja and collect monthly allocation from the Federation Account to spend the way they want, which he noted amounts to power without responsibility.
While advising the new executive secretaries to see their roles as a call to service Aregbesola tasked them to mobilise the people of their domains to meet their civic obligations and responsibilities, which include payment of levies and tax.
He also charged them to ensure elimination of street trading, saying the danger inherent in it is too enormous to be ignored.
"The greater responsibility and true autonomy consists in being able to mobilise the people in your domain for development through revenue generation and economic participation by all.
"The officials we are inaugurating today have their autonomy within this umbra of responsibility. It is a new day in local government administration.
"Many people have strange ideas on how access to local government administration could be a get rich quick scheme. I have bad news for them.
"All of you being inaugurated today should have it at the back of your minds that this is a call to service, with little or no reward". The governor stressed.
While appreciating the governor on behalf of his colleagues, the executive secretary of Ede south local government, My Johnson Ojo, said they will not betray the confidence reposed in them.
He said under true federalism, power is shared between federal and state government, while local government remains an integral part of the state.
Aregbesola stated this while swearing in the 67 newly appointed executive secretaries of local government and local council development authorities in the state, today in Osogbo, the state capital.
He held that Federalism is a constitutional arrangement in which power is shared between the units of government and the central government in which the sphere of authority of each is clearly delineated.
The Governor also added that federating units therefore are the states of the federation and the federal government, making only states and central government the federating partners.
He emphasised that the federal government is not superior to the states and not a supervising authority to the states, just primus inter pares, the first among equals.
According to him, "Local Governments on the other hand, are not federating partners and therefore do not have direct relationship with the Federal Government.
"It is a subversion of the federal principle for the Federal Government or any federal institution or agency to begin to undercut states and forge direct relationship with the Local Government. Understanding this point is important in defining the autonomy of the local government.
The Local Government is an integral part of a state and its autonomy therefore is definable within the state. I agree and support therefore the notion of its autonomy in this light.
"The Local Government should be not be shackled; it should be empowered to operate freely within its domain. It should have a wide latitude of responsibilities, control and operation within its jurisdiction.
"We have had challenges and abuse. Some states have turned their councils into cash cows. While the constitution requires states to guarantee a democratic system in the local government, this has also been subverted into state’s fiefdom. But we cannot throw out the baby with the bath water.
"The principle of federalism is important and we cannot sacrifice this on the altar of convenience. If there are abuses, let us address it, but don’t let us undermine federalism." The Governor told the gathering.
Aregbesola speaking on Local Government autonomy queried "why do some people demand autonomy at the local government? " noted that the answer is not far-fetched.
The Governor held that the councils too want to go Abuja and collect monthly allocation from the Federation Account to spend the way they want, which he noted amounts to power without responsibility.
While advising the new executive secretaries to see their roles as a call to service Aregbesola tasked them to mobilise the people of their domains to meet their civic obligations and responsibilities, which include payment of levies and tax.
He also charged them to ensure elimination of street trading, saying the danger inherent in it is too enormous to be ignored.
"The greater responsibility and true autonomy consists in being able to mobilise the people in your domain for development through revenue generation and economic participation by all.
"The officials we are inaugurating today have their autonomy within this umbra of responsibility. It is a new day in local government administration.
"Many people have strange ideas on how access to local government administration could be a get rich quick scheme. I have bad news for them.
"All of you being inaugurated today should have it at the back of your minds that this is a call to service, with little or no reward". The governor stressed.
While appreciating the governor on behalf of his colleagues, the executive secretary of Ede south local government, My Johnson Ojo, said they will not betray the confidence reposed in them.
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