The President spoke in Abuja at a national workshop on anti-corruption,
organised by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and the
Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
He was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund, in the
office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr Habiba
Lawal.
The president described the recent passage of the Local Government
Autonomy Bill by the National Assembly as an indication that his administration
had gradually begun the country’s restructuring.
President Buhari said: “Apparently, it is corruption that led to the
relegation of the local government to the grips of the state government over
the years thereby distorting and demeaning the real status of our federalism
with regards to devolving governance. A once vibrant tier of government, which
occasioned development at the grassroots, has gone into oblivion due to obvious
reasons.
“The good news is that the disposition of the National Assembly in granting
autonomy to this very important tier of government is an indication that we
have started already to address the question of restructuring which many
Nigerians appear to be clamouring for.
“I and my team are waiting patiently to receive the reports from the
state Houses of Assembly so as to do the needful in the event that the current
proposal for the review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) come to us for
consideration and assent.”
The president said his administration would continue to pursue friendly
policies that stimulate economic activities as well as attract foreign
investments. “The workshop and its theme couldn’t have come at a better time
than now considering that Nigerians have spoken (through the National Assembly)
in favour of local government autonomy and must be eagerly anticipating an
autonomous third tier of government.
“Corruption in Nigeria as you all know is as visible as the nose on our
faces. The dire consequences of corruption have led ultimately to what
characterizes underdevelopment in Nigeria, especially at the grassroots in
particular and the sub-Sahara Africa at large. It involves every tribe, section
or sector of the nation, including every tier and organ of government.”
The President reviewed the anti-corruption crusade. “So far, the
experience has been daunting and the outcome quite revealing,” he noted, adding
that “despite significant success recorded in recovering severally billions,
corruption is fighting back even harder than we envisaged”.
He urged workers at the grassroots to support his administration in
fighting against corruption, just as he acknowledged the role of whistle
blowers in the anti-corruption war.
Buhari said: “individuals must be seen to be morally upright. Families
must be willing to expose even their relatives found to be involved in corrupt
practices”.
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government
Employees, Ibrahim Khaleel, said the critical position of local government in
our federal system presupposes that the development or otherwise of our country
depends largely on the performance of that tier of government.
He added: “Sadly, the evidence of corruption in Nigeria, particularly at
the local government level, appears to be eternal and its lingering effect has
continuously bedevilled development at that tier of government which represents
the people.”
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