Moro Urges FG To Revert To Direct Allocation Of Funds To LGAs

Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, has urged the Federal Government to revert to direct statutory allocations to local governments, saying the move will stop unnecessary interference by state governors in the affairs of local councils in Nigeria.

Moro made the suggestion in Abuja while speaking on the recent dissolution of 23 local government councils in Benue by the state government.

Moro said there is a need to further amend the 1999 Constitution and relevant laws guiding the operations of the local government system.

This, he said, would help to avoid further emasculation and the illegal setting up of caretaker committee members at local government councils by state governments.

According to him, “From all standards of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this is alien and illegal, and by all standards, is an aberration.

“The constitution does not provide for the dissolution of the elected councils in Benue State or any part of Nigeria.

“There is no power in the constitution that arrogates to state houses of assembly to recommend the dissolution or suspension of local governments.

“And so, I felt that I should bring it to the attention of the National Assembly, especially the Senate because all my efforts to persuade the governor, government, and Benue House of Assembly to rescind the decision fell on deaf ears.

“And I believe that as a Senator representing the very good people of Benue South, which has nine local governments and 102 council wards, I have a responsibility to let the world know that this is what has happened to my consistency.”

He said he was an advocate for the financial and administrative autonomy of local governments, adding that the government’s decision was wrong.

“As a one-time chairman of a local government, I feel a comparing need to make the senate know and intervene in this matter because it is unconstitutional.

“This is an affront to the constitution and unfortunately perpetrated by people who have sworn to uphold and protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that is the most worrying situation,” Moro said.