Constitution Amendments: Reps Want INEC To Conduct LG Polls

The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review,
says it is considering the return of the conduct of local
government elections to the Independent National Electoral
Commission.

The green chamber said it was a way of ensuring a secured tenure
for elected local government leaders.

Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Idris Wase, stated this when the International
Republican Institute led youth leaders of the registered political
parties in the country to present to him a communique of their
meeting on Thursday.

The youth leaders were advocating among others, a secured tenure
for elected local government leaders, financial autonomy for local
government and independence of the local government
administration.

Wase told the delegation that he was of the firm belief that if
the country had a functional local government system, over 60 per
cent of the challenges facing the country would be addressed.

He asked the youth leaders to carry the advocacy for a
functional local government system to all states of the
federation.

He pointed out that the President, Major General Muhmmadu Buhari
(retd.), was determined to leave behind a functional local
government in the country.

He said, “You are helping us as a government in our key
determinant areas regarding what Mr President wants to leave as
part of his legacy.

“You remember the intervention he made regarding the judicial
autonomy and the financial independence of the local
government.

“You are adding the secured tenure of the local government now.
That is in tandem with what the present government wants to do in
giving good governance that level.

“I want to inform you that what we are trying to do in the
constitutional amendment is to make sure that the financial
autonomy is there, the independence of the local government is
there.

“We are trying to achieve that by all standards.

“In terms of the tenure, we are trying to take away from the
states and take it back to INEC so that we have a uniform system in
terms of the election.

“Everyone of us is aware that prior to 1999, we had a unified
system and even after 1999, the tenure was three years. Their
autonomy was apt and we had good governance.

“60 per cent of what we have as challenges in this country today
will be sorted out if we have good governance at the local
government level. I want to believe that the President is with you
on this 100 per cent.”

The leader of the delegation and Assistant Director of the
International Republican Institute, Sunday Alao said the aim of the
visit was to ensure that more opportunities are created for
political participation for young persons.

The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review,
says it is considering the return of the conduct of local
government elections to the Independent National Electoral
Commission.

The green chamber said it was a way of ensuring a secured tenure
for elected local government leaders.

Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Idris Wase, stated this when the International
Republican Institute led youth leaders of the registered political
parties in the country to present to him a communique of their
meeting on Thursday.

The youth leaders were advocating among others, a secured tenure
for elected local government leaders, financial autonomy for local
government and independence of the local government
administration.

Wase told the delegation that he was of the firm belief that if
the country had a functional local government system, over 60 per
cent of the challenges facing the country would be addressed.

He asked the youth leaders to carry the advocacy for a
functional local government system to all states of the
federation.

He pointed out that the President, Major General Muhmmadu Buhari
(retd.), was determined to leave behind a functional local
government in the country.

He said, “You are helping us as a government in our key
determinant areas regarding what Mr President wants to leave as
part of his legacy.

“You remember the intervention he made regarding the judicial
autonomy and the financial independence of the local
government.

“You are adding the secured tenure of the local government now.
That is in tandem with what the present government wants to do in
giving good governance that level.

“I want to inform you that what we are trying to do in the
constitutional amendment is to make sure that the financial
autonomy is there, the independence of the local government is
there.

“We are trying to achieve that by all standards.

“In terms of the tenure, we are trying to take away from the
states and take it back to INEC so that we have a uniform system in
terms of the election.

“Everyone of us is aware that prior to 1999, we had a unified
system and even after 1999, the tenure was three years. Their
autonomy was apt and we had good governance.

“60 per cent of what we have as challenges in this country today
will be sorted out if we have good governance at the local
government level. I want to believe that the President is with you
on this 100 per cent.”

The leader of the delegation and Assistant Director of the
International Republican Institute, Sunday Alao said the aim of the
visit was to ensure that more opportunities are created for
political participation for young persons.