The former chairman of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Folarin Gbadebo-Smith has kicked against the controversial call for Local Government (LG) autonomy saying that the local government can’t survive without the state government.
Mr Gbadebo-Smith on our breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, stated that “no local government can survive on its own without a state government authority” adding that “all system in the country must function as an integrated units.”
The former LG chairman asked why authority should be handed-over to an office whose performance cannot be measured.
According to him, “the LGs are only accountable to the State Assemblies while their funds come from the federal government. If they are given the autonomy, they (LG officials) are going to do what they like, because they are no longer accountable to anybody.”
Prescribing a fomular that will get the LGs productive in development, Mr Gbadebo-Smith suggested that the “civil societies which represent the voice of people, should play a much stronger role by interfacing with the local governments.”
He also called the development of a public accountability system as well as a performance audit system.
This is what the state governments can be of good use for by reaching a agreement with the local government leaders to achieve a set target.
“There has to be sanctions and rewards for such targets” he added.
