A combined photo of President Bola Tinibu and Peter Martins Amodu
I came to realize that all efforts of President Bola Tinubu to help local government councils in Nigeria develop their local communities failed from day one. The only good thing and good news about the signing of LG Autonomy bill into law was the announcement in the media and it all ended there.
Today, the governors have deviced a means to divert local government funds into their pockets for personal use.
In a certain State from what i discovered, the local government Chairmen were made to sign their resignation letters before swearing in, they were also made to take an oath of secrecy never to divulge details of whatever happens between them and the Governor to a third party. Any day you go against the agreement your resignation letter will be effected immediately.
Every month, local governments are entitled to more than #400m which could have helped them to effect developments in their councils but those monies are handed over to their Governors once received.
I was indirectly involved in a group social project with a certain local government chairman and part of his obligations was to provide #1million naira to the project, Baba was struggling to raise 1m for several weeks and couldn’t meet up.
The local government Chairmen who are supposed to be receiving monthly allocations ranging from #400 million and above are only receiving monthly salaries like political appointees.
Local government chairmen are struggling to survive, go near them and see their lifestyle. It is a shame that the people who are elected to drive development are the ones blocking development.
It doesn’t matter who’s President of Nigeria, if the Nigerian people are not good Nigeria can never be good.
Peter Martins Amodu writes from Lokoja, Kogi State
