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•••••••NIGERIA TODAY ON NTA24 LIVE WITH HON. (Dr.) FELIX GODSENT AKHABUE JP on Thursday 25th of March, 2021 @ 7:30pm.
Hon. Felix Godsent Akhabue JP, who was the major guest of the programme, "Nigeria Today on NTA24 live" which was anchored by a veteran Broadcaster - Victor Alu, spoke extensively on *REPOSITIONING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS IN NIGERIA*.
The former *President of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria* (ALGON) dwelt on the importance and relevance of the Local Government System which is the third tier of Government.
He reeled out the basic functions of the system as enshrined by the constitution, and also hailed the foresight of the founding fathers that made it so considering it's importance in the development of the local grass root area across the length and breadth of country.
He emphasized the structural defect in the system which is stem on how it was made to be under the influence of the state government and State Houses of Assemblies.
He gave example of the supervisory role of the State Houses of Assemblies, and the financial management under the guise of "Joint Account" even when the Local Government Council's Officials are never signatory to the said account, and yet it is refered to as joint account.
The *former President of the United Cities and Local Government of Africa* underscores the need for real Financial and Administrative Autonomy for the Local Government to function well and meet it's expectations just as the first and second tier of government enjoys autonomy.
The *former Commissioner of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment in Edo state, and former Executive Chairman of Esan West Local Government Council* accentuate the need for the system to be more democratic. He frowned at the way the system officials are been made which is more of selection than election judging from the recent happenings across the States of the country since the creation of states electoral commission.
Realising the fact that their is always tomorrow, He emphasized the need for proper election of official into the system democratically in order to make the officials alive to their responsibilities since they will be aware that it is only who do well that will get the people's nod next time of seeking position, unlike as it is now where the elected or selected officials can only give their loyalty to the leaders or few privilege persons that selected them instead of the people.
The *former First Vice President of the World Conference of Mayors* called on Restructuring in the Electoral System in the LGCs just as it was in the past till after 1999.
These well articulation opinion was coloborated by the other guest of the 30-minutes programme who was live with them via zoom, Mike Utsaha who is a Public Affairs Analyst.
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