The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), has called on state governments to release the unpaid Paris Club Refunds due to affected local governments, as reconciled with the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The association’s National President, Kolade Alabi, also lamented what he described as the continued stifling of local government administration through limited or restricted access to their full monthly Federation Account Allocations (FAC), by some state governments.
Among the states culpable, he said, are those operating with caretaker committees, or sole administrators instead of the duly elected local government officials as guaranteed by Section 7 of the Constitution.
The umbrella body for local government said the non-payment of funds due to affected local governments is affecting the growth of those councils.
The ALGON President said: “A prominent example is the continued withholding of most Local Governments’ share of Paris Club Refunds, although fully paid by the Federal Government between 2016 and 2018. No doubt, we cannot underestimate the unique position of local governments in addressing and resolving the immediate concerns and pressing problems of ordinary Nigerians for security (both human and food), health and wellbeing, affordable transportation and other fundamental elements of modern livelihood.
ALGON noted with dismay how the absence of full authority and proper funding had undermined the effectiveness of local government administration in the country.
Alabi, a lawyer and Chairman of Bariga Local Council in Lagos State, said: “This untoward action by the higher authority has deprived communities of good infrastructure and amenities, prevented growth of social services and provision of more adequate security. It also led to crumbling and eventual collapse of existing facilities designed to meet basic needs like housing, healthcare, primary education, portable water and food security.”
He enjoined Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President is not a quick fix but a tedious process to a great development.
Nigerians, the ALGON president said, should endure the process, assuring that they would laugh at last.
According to him, the masses should recognize that the courageous and inevitable policies of President Tinubu though difficult and painful in implementation, are desirable and appropriate in conception, and will ultimately prove beneficial, for reversing decades of economic mismanagement and ensuring renewed hope and a bright future for all Nigerians.
He added: “As government closer to the people, we observed with great concern, the extremely difficult circumstances many Nigerian families are currently enduring. This was caused by soaring food prices, diminished household incomes, mounting insecurity, increased unemployment, high transportation costs and many other ills currently plaguing the nation’s economy and society.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
