Autonomy for LGs: NASS will legislate to ensure INEC conducts LGC elections - Karimi

Senate Services Committee, Senator  Sunday Karimi, APC, Kogi West has disclosed that the National Assembly would soon work on the transfer of the responsibility of the conduct of elections to the local councils from the various state electoral bodies to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking with Journalists in Abuja yesterday on the landmark judgment on financial autonomy for local government areas pronounced by the Supreme Court on Thursday, Senator Karimi who noted that President Bola Tinubu deserves commendation on the judgement, urged  Nigerians to keep faith that the National Assembly would ensure compliance by the various state governments while also taking up the responsibility of amending the constitution to address inherent contentious issues.

The Senator who noted that the President deserves to be honoured in the nation’s “Hall of Fame” for enabling the judiciary free hand to function, which culminated in such historic adjudication, said: “I thank Mr President for mustering the courage to do the right thing. Since 1999, the third tier of government, literally speaking, has been nonexistent. State Governments treated them as appendages of the state governments. No President  has been able to change that. But, within one year, however, President Tinubu has returned the local government to the owners-the masses.

“Local governments, if well operated, will ensure a better existence for our people. President Tinubu took due cognisance of this and courageously took the bull by the horn".

According to him, the battle was not yet over, saying: “Some State Governors will fight back. President Tinubu allowed the judiciary a free hand to operate in this particular instance, irrespective of the fact that he is but a first term President who may desire a comeback in 2027.”

He said Tinubu did this primarily because of his single-minded concern for Nigeria’s masses, adding: “I align myself with the President on this. It takes a man of the people, it takes a man of courage, it takes a man that knows and feels the pulse of the masses to make this to happen.

“He has seen it all, as a former Senator and a former Governor. Former President Buhari promised to push this but lacked the presence of mind and political will to pursue it. It will not stop there.

“The National Assembly through our oversight responsibility will ensure that revenue from the federal purse goes to where it is suppose to go. We will ensure that the Supreme Court judgment is obeyed to the later, that allocation is shared between the three tiers of government in accordance with the law.”

On the next step, Karimi said to ensure that the local government elections are conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, it  has a duty to amend the electoral act and the 1999 constitution to ensure that credible people are elected to the helms of the local government administration.

He said: "I will ensure that capable individuals can step forward to contest local government elections. Experienced people will be needed to manage the funds effectively  and prioritize the development of the grassroots for the masses to become actively involved in shaping the future of their local governments.

“A lot of money that has gone to the local governments, over the years, was either taken over by the state governments through the joint account or not accounted for. “Prosperity will remember President Tinubu for this epoch making achievement, his second term is assured."