LG Autonomy: NALGA Commends President Tinubu Over S’Court Judgement
•By Suliah Awojoodu, Ibadan
IBADAN – A civil society organization, the Nigerian Masses Alliance For Local Government Autonomy, NALGA, has lauded the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for making the third tier of government in the country see the light of the day.
This is contained in a statement jointly signed by its national president, Comrade Olaniyan Taoheed Adewale and National General Secretary, Comrade Sodiq Sonibare and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Lagos State.The group noted that the decision of the president to change the narrative is an indication of doggedness, absolute resolve, sincere commitment and an uncommon passion for grassroots governance as a panacea for the overall development of the nation and every Nigerian state.
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Following the Supreme Court Judgment in favour of the local government autonomy which will formalize total administrative and financial independence from the aged long shackles of the governors on Thursday 11 July, 2024, which has for years dictated less development at the grassroots; the group described it a transformational and herald of drastic, and radical change that will redirect the fortunes of the local government and people at the grassroots.
“It is with a delightful heart, joy and deep sense of gratitude that we join millions of Nigerians, particularly the Grassroots Masses in the 774 LGAs of the Nation to celebrate the long overdue ‘Democratic Victory’ in our democratic journey and history orchestrated by the landmark judgment of 11 July, 2024 by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
“While this ‘Mother of democratic victory” is being celebrated, we, under the aegis of the Nigerian Masses Alliance for Local Government Autonomy, an umbrella body and civil society group, who have over the years stood as vanguards and advocates of this struggle owe it a sacred duty to give Credit and Honour to the Number One Citizen of this great Nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who has shown doggedness, absolute resolve, sincere commitment and an uncommon passion for grassroots governance as panacea for the overall development of the nation and the Nigerian State.”
“An autonomous, independent Local Government is the closest arm of government to the people that understands the people at the grassroots level and is able to deliver on the individual needs of those small communities.”
“We state with every emphasis that indeed, this development is transformational and heralds a drastic and radical change that will redirect the fortunes of the local governments and the grassroots masses.”
“It is specifically a significant victory for the grassroots masses of Nigeria and this affirms Mr. President’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is truly manifesting positively for the good of democracy and it will impact on the common man at the grassroots which is the bastion of democracy and development.”
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The civil society organization boasted its delight in the judgement which it said had been its struggle for years as only through this the anticipated development at the grassroots and the country at large will come to play, including security and talent discovery and development of the common man, describing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a true democrat.
“Mr. President, we of the Nigerian Masses Alliance for Local Government Autonomy (NALGA) are a long time advocates of Local Government Autonomy, a struggle we have steered overtime with true commitment, sacrifice and equal passion (as yours).”
“For a fact, the Supreme Court judgement has ‘put paid’ all our years of struggle and clamour, which effort came close to fruition in the year 2022, when then President Mohammadu Buhari proclaimed the ‘Administrative Order 10’ Granting Financial Autonomy to Local Governments, but which was immediately overturned by the Supreme Court then following a Suit filed the then Governors of the 36 States.”
“Today, the dynamics have changed and history has been made as a finality to decades of abuse, emasculation and bastardization of the ‘Third-tier’ of Government of the Nigerian Federation. True democracy is here to stay, courtesy of the ‘True Nigerian democrat’, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR (The Renewed Hope Advocate) of the Nigerian polity since independence.”
“Suffice to again state that, this unprecedented development provides and will enable a ‘new political landscape ‘ in the Nigerian democratic experience. ‘Yes the poor grassroots masses can now breathe’. It is time for real grassroots development. This guarantees service delivery, grassroots security and self-discovery for the common man.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Masses Alliance for Local Government Autonomy, NALGA, called the present National Assembly under the leadership of both Senator Godswill Akpabio and Rt. Honourable Tajudeen Abass to perfect the grey area in the nation’s constitution which still requires cogent and concurrent amendment to performance of the law in line with the Supreme Court Judgment as to avoid any form of ‘shortchanging’ or circumvention of the local government and restrict the state governors by all means, against administrative interference.
“On this note, however, and by this medium, we also want to quickly ‘call and demand ‘that, the National Assembly should immediately do the needful by perfecting other grey areas and aspects of the Constitution that requires cogent and concurrent amends to ‘flow’ in tandem with the Supreme Court’s landmark Judgement in order to avoid or prevent any form of circumventing, circum-navigating or shortchanging the Local Governments by their hitherto, ‘overlords’, the governors, whose stock-in-trade’ is to do anything humanly possible to hold grip of the third-tier as a personal estate and cash-cow.”
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“All antics by the Governors must be resisted by all means”, the group said.