The Lagos state House of Assembly is considering a Bill that would make local governments in the State semi-independent through a Board that would incorporate comparative economic advantage of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas.
According to the House Committee Chairman on Budget and Economic Planning, Rotimi Olowo, the bill becomes expedient in the face of the Nigeria’s current slim purse and the need for those in government to explore other means to generate revenue.
Olowo explained that the time had come for council chairmen to stop going cap-in-hand looking for money.
Olowo explained that there had been a way the council chairmen met with officials of the State government in the past concerning development in their councils, but that this bill, when passed, would deepen the passion to work
“We know as it is today, some of the local governments cannot operate until they get their JAAC’s, we cannot continue that way because Nigeria is facing a very hard time. And year in, year out, what is accruable to them from the federation account is on the decline.
“So the local governments must be incorporated into the economic planning of the State in such a manner that they will be able to operate at their uppermost level considering their
Strength economically.
The lawmaker noted that comparative economic advantage of each local government is essential, adding that some local governments have better economic advantage over the others and there was need to go in that direction.
According to the Chairman, development should not go from top to bottom but the other way, saying where it was the State government that mostly determined how the local government councils operate should not be allowed to continue.
“The situation is challenging. Many of the local government councils can no longer pay their personnel and this cannot continue. They must now be incorporated in such a way that they would be able to perform very well. If Lagos Island is good at fish farming, then let it be. Each will now operate maximally using its economic strength,” he said.
The Bill seeks to create the Local Government Economic Planning and Development board to include the State Governor, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, the Commissioner for Finance, the Commissioner for Local Government Administration and Community Affairs.
Others to be included in the board are the 57 council chairmen in the State, the chairman, council of traditional rulers, a representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), a representative of the League of Imams and five members of the Community Development Association (CDA) picked from the five divisions of the State to be appointed by the Governor.
The Bill obtained by our correspondent gives the board the power to assess the various needs of each local government and advise on issues of planning development.
The board is to also implement and ensure due compliance with guidelines on economic planning and development, encourage local government participation in economic activities of the State, especially where there are comparative advantages and establish trade fairs to foster relationship and good neighbourliness between the local governments and the State.
One good thing about the bill, according to the Deputy Speaker of the House, Wasiu Sanni-Eshinlokun is that only members of the board that do not hold government office would be entitled to remuneration, because public officers are not entitled to double pay.