In support of local government autonomy, a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Abubakar Lawal, has called for abolition of States Electoral Commission’s involvement in local government elections.
Lawal, a lecturer at the Department of Public Administration of the university made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Zaria.
According to Lawal, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be mandated to conduct election into local government councils in the country.
“The National Assembly should amend the existing laws on local governments to empower Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct election into local government councils in the country.
“The amendment should make provision for local government election to be conducted simultaneously with Presidential/National Assembly Election, Governorship/State House of Assembly Election,” Lawal said.
He said elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors should also be allowed to enjoy four year tenure in office to strengthen democracy at the grassroots.
The don also explained that administrative autonomy indicated that a local government should have capacity and manpower to run its administrative activities independent of State Government.
He however stated that lack of administrative autonomy has always been the bane of local government councils in Nigeria.
