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By Victor Bieni, Asaba
As part of efforts towards the promotion of transparency, accountability through open, participatory and inclusive budget at the grassroots level for effective and efficient, well and functional Local Government systems in Nigeria and Delta State, a formidable Niger-Delta based Anti-corruption, good governance group and Civil Society Organization (CSO), Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) through its Budget Advocacy Committee (DBAC) In Delta State has urged Citizens, CSOs, State Governments, FGN and other critical stakeholders to join force with NULGE to Actualize the advocacy, vision for a fiscal Autonomy for all 774 LGAs in Nigeria and 25 LGAs in Delta State.
Senior Program Officer, Social Action, Dr. Prince Ekpere Edegbuo ably represented by Barr Augustina O. Oduuna, who is the Coordinator, social Action’s Budget Advocacy Committee (CBAC) spoke while addressing a press conference on Thursday, September 21, 2023 as organized by Delta State LGAs Budget Advocacy Committee as event took place at Oduuna Associates, Maryam Babangida Way, Asaba, Delta State capital.
The leadership of Social Action’s Budget Advocacy Committee in Delta State (DBAC) led by Barr Augustina O. Oduuna speaking during the press conference in Asaba had demanded for an inclusive, participatory and open budget process in Delta LGAs. While urging resistant Governors, lawmakers and other critical stakeholders to turn over a new leaf and join force with the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees to actualize vision stated that the consistent call for local government autonomy had become necessary to promote the foundation for accountability in the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria.
The CSO group leadership in Delta State also advocated for constitutional amendment to free the Nigeria LGAs from joint account systems with state Governments so as to promote fiscal Autonomy of LGAs in the country, and Delta State in particular as she used medium to enjoin Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to direct all LGAs in Delta State to set up a functional websites where citizens, communities can track development projects coming to their area with proper adoption of community needs assessment model so as to foster sustainable grassroots development in Delta State and Nigeria in general.
In her words: “It is with a sense of urgency and unwavering commitment that we continue this crucial campaign. Delta State Local Government Budget Advocacy Committee demands that the Local Government be granted full autonomy to truly function as a tier of government. We demand that LGAs in Nigeria, particularly Delta State operate an open, inclusive and participatory budget process and to lead the way in enthroning transparency and accountability in the utilization of public resources”.
“In January 23, all LGAs in Delta State Received a total of N5.10 billion naira as a location from the federation account, all things being equal, if this remains so, at the end of the year, about N62.1 billion would have received aa allocation to LGAs in Delta State, what about the internally generated revenue they generate and the state’s IGR share to LGAs. It is high time the beam us turned on the LGA leadership to ask critical questions around our collective resources”.
“During the 9th Assembly attempt to secure 2/3 votes from the State Houses of Assembly to amend the constitution could not be achieved, several states demonstrated their support by voting for legislation that would grant administrative and fiscal autonomy to local governments. Amending the constitution is very imperative so as to enable local governments regain their capacity to serve their communities, and ensure that good governance will not remain elusive in Nigeria”.
Oduuna finally urged CSOs and the media to adopt innovative strategies and persevere on the advocacy concerns for Local Government autonomy in Nigeria to get positive response so as to ensure sustainable grassroots development in the country and Delta State in general. She stated further that its opposition by some Governors is not in the best interest of citizens, idea will not forge a path to empower communities towards the delivering of essential amenities at the grassroots levels. The press conference was attended by Civil Society Organizations in Delta State, different media organizations such as Delta Broadcasting Station (DBS), Trend FM Radio, Daily Independent Newspaper, Vanguard, Punch, Sun Newspaper, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Pointer Newspaper, Delta Uhuru & Shocknaija Media (Online News) to mention but a few.