The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has pledged that the National Assembly will amend the current legislations that had impeded the administration of local councils in the country to guarantee the third tier of government full autonomy.Akpabio identified the state and local government joint accounts committee and the state Independent Electoral Commission laws as legislations that the National Assembly would amend to grant full autonomy to local governments in the country.
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State, gave the assurance at Independence High School, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area, shortly after participating in the local government elections held yesterday in Akwa Ibom State.A statement by the Special Assistant to the President of the Senate on Media and Communication, Anietie Ekong, quoted Akpabio as urging the people to participate no matter what the outcome would be.
He said: “For me, I believe strongly in the autonomy of local government and the Supreme Court has recently given a verdict that there is a need for the funds of the local government to go directly to the local government.“It will still need a bit of parliamentary tinkering for that to become a reality as a result of various provisions in the 1999 Constitution.“Like the joint local government account committee and the provision of the state Independent Electoral Commission laws. My coming here today is to participate in the local government polls and to observe the conduct of the election by the state government.
“Sometimes, you hear that the local government election is conducted and the ruling party in the state will win all the positions available.“So, it was necessary for me to come and see how such feats are achieved.“With the avalanche of support that you have seen that I have in my senatorial district and local government, of which you are all witnesses, how do people normally score 100 per cent?“So, it simply means that if elections are allowed to be free and fair that the political parties will choose people based on their competence and not on the basis of the ruling parties in that state.
“It calls to question the conscience of Nigerians, the need for us to examine our conscience, the need for us to ensure that every vote counts, the need for us to deepen democracy and allow democracy to work.“If democracy does not work at the grassroots level, it means that development will never trickle down to the common man.“That is the reason that despite many other engagements I came down to participate since Akwa Ibom is said to be doing local government election today. So, I came to exercise my franchise and also meet with my people.
“My message to the people is to vote whether you win or you don’t win, the joy is being able to exercise your franchise, and having the right to vote. The rest of getting it right will need parliamentary input and executive push and even the assertion of the judiciary,” he said.