Local Councils In Ekiti Groan Over Paucity Of Funds

By Ayodele Oni

Local government, which is the third tiers of government in Nigeria’s federal system, is facing hard times in Ekiti state.

Investigations revealed that successive administrations in the state have turned local council funds to another source of revenue to the state government.

From findings, the situation is getting worse with the creation of Local Council Development Authority, (LCDA) by the present administration.

The newly created nine LCDAs, carved out of the constitutionally recognized 16 local governments, do not have any means of generating revenue than shares they receive from parent councils.

Election has been held in the LCDAs during last December council poll, during which chairmen and councilors were elected.

It was gathered that during the immediate past administration of Governor Ayo Fayose, funds went directly to the councils, but later returned to the state where they would be shared according to the Governor’s directive.

Under the present dispensation, the Chief of Staff to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Mr Abiodun Omoleye, presides over the monthly sharing of funds to the councils and LCDAs.

None of the councils in the state can award contract to the tune of N100,000 without recourse to the office of the Governor through the Ministry of Local Government.

The traditional functions of sweeping markets and clearing road sides which were previously functions of Local Government have been abandoned.

Recently, there was a report that salaries and allowances of elected local government chairmen and councilors had been ridiculously slashed by the state government.

The state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who is chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, (NGF) has in several forum canvassed for abrogation of local government which he said should not be part of Nigeria’s federating units.

Some traditional rulers in Ilejemeje local government, had led a protest over lack of amenities in the over 25 year’s old council headquarters at Eda Oniyo.

Since its creation, the local government has no secretariat, prompting workers to resume under shades of trees, while some of them do not report for work, except at the end of the month to receive salary.

The present administration has also reduced the tenure of elected officials from three to two years.