SOME NIGERIANS INSIST ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY

Callers on Political Watch, a Radio Nigeria Enugu Zonal Programme, have advocated full autonomy of the local government administration in the country as a means of propelling development in the rural areas.

Some of them, including Mr. Gabriel Anyim from Ebonyi State and Mr. Rich Onyia from Enugu, were of the opinion that allowing state governments to manage local government funds was a major impediment to the development of rural areas.

A caller, Mr. Chima Okoroafor from Abia State, alleged that workers in the state were being owed salaries and appealed for help to save them from untimely death.

A Guest on the programme, a Constitutional Lawyer and human Rights activist, Dr. Tony Ngene, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the recent move to grant local governments financial autonomy.

Dr. Ngene called for a review of administration of local government system to make it more result oriented.

Another guest and President Pan African Congress Bureau, Ozo Ferdinand Anikwe, said local government administrations should ignite process that would engender a healthy competition among communities.

Ozo Anikwe advised local governments to widen the scope of economic development in rural areas and urged politicians to serve the people with honesty.