Connect with us

National

Tinubu Praised for Championing Local Government Autonomy

Published

on

Former leaders of the National Association of Local Government and Development Studies have praised President Bola Tinubu for his strong stance on local government autonomy.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, they lauded Tinubu’s efforts to empower local governance.

Dr. Kazeem Lamidi, a former member of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Students’ Representative Council and senior lecturer in the Department of Local Government at OAU, highlighted the longstanding demand for local government autonomy.

“Local governance is crucial for effective administration and clear development agendas,” said Lamidi.

He emphasized that Tinubu’s initiative would facilitate direct revenue allocation, enhancing local governance and prompt social services delivery.

Dr. Ayotunde Odewale, the pioneer President of the National Association of Local Government Students at OAU, echoed this sentiment.

“Nigeria’s development depends on strengthening local government institutions,” Odewale noted.

He advocated for cooperative relationships between local and state governments, especially for functions like primary education, healthcare, and agricultural development.

Oluwaloseyi Babaeko, a former CTC Chairman of the Association and past Secretary of the Nigerian Students’ Association at the University of Leeds, UK, asserted that full local government autonomy is long overdue.

He urged the National Assembly to amend Section 162 of the Constitution to eliminate the joint state-local government account.

“Local governments need financial and political independence to drive national development,” Babaeko stated.

He also called on state governors to support Tinubu’s initiative and proposed creating a Ministry of Local Government at the federal level.

These commendations come as the Federal Government seeks enforcement of local government autonomy through the Supreme Court, aiming to prevent state governors from unlawfully dissolving elected local government chairmen and constituting caretaker committees.

ALSO READ:  FG, states, LGs share N1.411 trn for October – FAAC

National

Akpabio-Natasha fued: CAN calls for elders’ intervention 

Published

on

By Amos Tauna, Kaduna

The chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has called on well-meaning Nigerians to intervene in the feud between the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.

ln a telephone interview, the cleric said that as a responsible religious body, CAN considers the feud “shameful and unfortunate”, calling on Nigerians to intervene to ensure sanity in the National Assembly.

According to the chairman, “There is a need for elders to intervene. Akpabio and Natasha as well as the entire members  of the National Assembly are honourable members that should be accorded respect, Nigerians hold them in high regards. The members of the National Assembly should also do whatever at their disposal to ensure they address the matter to give peace a chance.”

He added, “We should show that we are responsible people in addressing any matter that wants to cause any problem, it is not to find fault but to mend fences and move forward as a nation.”

Hayab stated that no one should toy with an allegation of sexual harassment, saying that Nigeria has gone past such things because Nigeria has gone past the era when people claim they are underdogs or minorities.

He urged the media not to fuel the feud in their reportage, saying that doing so would only further confuse and divide Nigerians.

The CAN chairman urged the members of the National Assembly to channel their energies toward making the lives of Nigerians better with their official engagements, having passed the 2025 national budget.

ALSO READ:  ICPC chairman reaffirms commitment to integrity, accountability

He expressed CAN’s appeal for all groups involved or affected by the Akpabio-Natasha feud to sheath their swords and refrain from making comments capable of further dividing Nigerians along gender or regional lines, stressing that Nigerians should use their as a source of strength to achieve things that are to the overall interests of Nigerians.

Hayab advised, “Let’s give peace a chance.”

 

Continue Reading

National

FG approves N2.5bn satellite gadget to combat illegal mining

Published

on

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its third meeting of the year on Monday, approved the procurement of a N2.5 billion satellite gadget to combat illegal mining in the country.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, said this while briefing State House Correspondents, after the FEC meeting.

He said the technology was an integrated solution framework to combat unlicensed, unregulated, underreported mining activities.

The Minister said the deployment of the technology would curb activities that had led to revenue leakages, illegal operations and illegal extraction and exploitation of the country’s minerals.

“We are procuring satellite equipment, satellite gadgets that will be installed in strategic places all over the country that would enable us to have visual effect, real time of the operations that are ongoing in sites all over the country.

“There will be a centre like a screen in the operation centre, the mines martial centre, and in my office as well.

“At a glance, at the click of a button, you can surf any mine site and see the operations there; the volume of the mineral extracted, the number of trucks going out, and, of course, the security situation in the environment,” said the Minister.

Alake said his ministry introduced the technology in addition to a two-prong strategy to combat illegal mining.

He said on assumption of duty, the ministry adopted a two-prong approach: persuasive and coercive strategies.

He said the persuasive strategy entailed appealing to the sense of responsibility of artisanal miners to form cooperatives.

“When they form cooperatives, they become structured, formalised and legalised, and their operation can now add some value to the nation.

ALSO READ:  ICPC chairman reaffirms commitment to integrity, accountability

“When they form cooperatives they become bankable. They can even have access to financial institutions to procure loans to expand their businesses.

“And of course, it means they have to pay their obligations to the Nigerian state,” he said.

He said the ministry had been able to persuade the illegal and artisanal miners to form over 300 cooperative societies.

Alake said the second approach, the coercive strategy was for those who were recalcitrant, who failed to yield to the persuasive method.

“We used the coercive measure, and that is epitomised by the Mining Marshalls that we established. To date, we have arrested apprehended, prosecuted and convicted illegal operators, including foreigners,” he said. (NAN)

Continue Reading

National

LG Chairman Impeached In Bauchi

Published

on

The Assembly of Councillors in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State has removed the local government Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Beli, and his Deputy, Hon. Usman Adamu, from office.

Their removal followed a committee investigation that found them guilty of gross misconduct, financial mismanagement, failure to perform their duties, and abuse of office.

A resolution signed by 10 councillors, including the council leader Hon. Wali Adamu and his deputy, officially declared the offices of both the Chairman and Vice Chairman vacant with immediate effect.

The resolution explained that, “The removal of the Chairman and his deputy is based on the findings of the investigation committee, which has established that the chairman and his deputy were engaged in financial, mismanagement, failed to perform their duties, breached the trust placed on them, and abused their office.”

While briefing journalists of this development, the Council Leader explained that both Beli and Adamu have faced increasing scrutiny for their management of the local government’s affairs.

He claimed that they have failed to perform their duties and have severely breached the trust placed in them by the people of Shira despite several warnings, and they can no longer afford to tolerate such conduct.

All efforts to get the reaction of Beli and Adamu have proved abortive so far.

ALSO READ:  At UAE 52 National Day, Barau Seeks Stronger Diplomatic Ties
Continue Reading