Only God can save local governments in Nigeria, Obasanjo weeps
- Local governments in Nigeria are seriously under-funded
- This is one of the complaints of Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday, April 6
- The former president alleged that most state executives do not care about the welfare of the local government councils
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Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president of Nigeria, on Tuesday, A[ril 6, lamented the poor funding of 774 local governments across the country.
In a statement made available to Legit.ng through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former president revealed that the local governments are now so bankrupt that they can even afford grader to make their roads motorable.
Obasanjo noted that this is just one among the many functions contained in the Local Government Reform of 1976.
Source: UGC
The former president claimed that the said reform has been degraded by the states' executives.
In light of this, the elder statesman urged Nigerian local government workers to take their plight to God in prayer.
He also called upon God on behalf of the new president of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Akeem Olatunji Ambali at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Penthouse residence.
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His words:
"I am of the view that the situation needs prayers. A situation whereby a local government cannot even afford a grader to make local roads motorable, a situation where they can not build hospital or provide for the educational needs of their people is not what we want the local government to be when we were creating the 1976 Reform
"Well, the rot actually started by the military, who wanted to have such local councils in their respective areas. This increased the number to 774 from about 300.
"But, the politicians further make it worse with corruption. These were not what we envisioned when we created local governments reform in 1976. Local governments are expected to provide overall quality of life for the people who reside in their communities, but is that what we have now?"
Meanwhile, Sokoto state governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal had called for an amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to create roles for traditional rulers in the country.
Tambuwal made the call while inaugurating the newly built Delta state traditional rulers' council secretariat in Asaba, on Wednesday, March 24.
Source: Legit.ng
