The demand for autonomy in the local governments of Nigeria has always been in the front burner of political discussions since the beginning of this republic in 1999. The heat on it has been hotter since the national assembly concluded the first part of his responsibility towards constitutional amendment process in favor of granting political and administrative autonomy to the 776 local government councils in Nigeria.
However, the issue of administrative and political autonomy has been receiving attacks from the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT). On the contrary, the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) is solidly in support of the autonomy. While the reason for rejection by the NGF is understandable and it has been variously addressed, the reason for rejection of the amendment and the proposed protest by the teachers has not been addressed. I think the teachers need to be enlightened and educated on this. This is the main focus of my article.
As a lover of grassroots politics, I found it rather pathetic that the last time populist democracy and some degree of autonomy existed in most of our councils was in the last military era. Since we started this republic, the local governments have been strongly tied down to the apron string of the states. Except in few cases.
Reading through some newspapers and some online journals, I have discovered that the main reason why the teachers are against the proposal to grant administrative and political autonomy to the local government is the fear of getting their salaries paid on time from the various councils if this amendment eventually sees the light of the day. This much was expressed by the NUT national chairman, Comrade Michael Olukoya after the union’s national executive meeting held recently. Particular mention was made of 1990 to 1994 when teachers were not paid on time. Then, it was the responsibility of the councils to pay their salaries, allowances and after retirement, their pensions and gratuities.
Perhaps, the strongest point the governors have against granting financial and administrative autonomy to the third tier of governments is the fact that fiscal federalism all over the ward recognize only two tiers of government (The central and the state governments). But they did not tell us if states in all other federalism rely on the central government for funds to run the states.
Just like there is no unique form of democracy across the world, there should be different forms of federalism. Nigeria factor brings an unusual situation which leads us to unusual federalism. Then our system should be unusual from others. Other federalisms don’t have Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) or Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) which we have to share income from crude oil at the center and the states respectively. Hence, there is nothing wrong in Nigeria having a well recognized third tier of government and power it to serve the people effectively.
In other democracies, usually referred to by our governors, the local governments (counties) are so free and autonomous that they control and conduct their own elections, they have and control their police, they have county courts and the local governments engage in business as big as airports. The Miami International Airport is reputed to be the third biggest in the whole world, yet it is owned and controlled by Miami Dade County (a local government in USA).
On the position of the nation’s teacher, the first point I will like to draw is that it is the constitutional responsibility of the local governments to pay the primary school teacher’s salaries and other remunerations. The only difference now is that their various forms of payments are deducted on their behalf by the state governments (Through the Joint Account Allocation Committees) before the remaining money is transferred to the local government’s accounts. Hence, I think what the teachers should ask for is a legitimate, institutionalized and fool proof system to ensure that their remunerations will be paid to them as at when due without dabbling into this constitutional matter and in fact the murky water of politics.
As Nigerians and believers in the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, everything should be done to strengthen the constitution of the country. Since the payment of the teachers’ salaries and the payment of the salaries of the local government workers fall under the constitutional roles of the local government, the third tier of government should be given all necessary tools and supports to function effectively in this area.
In the first instance, the teachers union and the general populace should understand that there is a big difference between independence of the local government and the autonomy of the local government. In this instance, we are requesting for autonomy not independence. Suffix to say that even with full autonomy, the states will still have some degree of controls over the local governments. It also follows to say that the national assembly is not asking for full autonmy but “administrative and financial autonomy” which is very much lesser than full autonomy.
This autonomy is to allow the local governments to have some degree of controls and leverages over their activities to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities to the people. We have to understand that there is a purpose for the creation of local government and they are created to meet the peculiar needs of their locality which may be different from the needs of other local governments within their states. Presently the control of most local governments is in the hand of their governors. Owing to this, most of the specific and peculiar needs of the immediate communities are unattended to while the needs of the states continues to be met by the local governments using the local government’s fund.
Another school of taught is of the view that the elected and political appointees at the local government levels are rogues and embezzlers who do not deserve to be trusted with the fund meant for teacher’s salaries and remuneration. As a former local government chairman, I beg to differ on this vehemently. This is not true and if it happens to be true at all, it means the general public is faulty in electing rogues and embezzlers into the office. This should be the area that needs to be addressed.
It may also be pertinent to mention that except for the age, the 1999 constitution of Nigeria and the electoral act 2010 highlighted the same qualification and disqualification for governors and local government chairmen. The only difference is that a contestant has to be at least 30 years old to be chairman of a local government and at least 35 years old to be a governor. Gen. Yakubu Gowon was 32 when he became Head of States in 1966, Chief Awolowo became a Premier at 43, Chief Anthony Enahoro moved the motion for Nigeria Independence in 1953 at 30 years old. Many notable world leaders led their countries and made innovative discoveries around this age. Notable among whom are Julius Caesar, Martin Luther King, Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln etc. In fact, Jesus Christ our Lord was nailed to the cross at the age of 33.So there should be nothing wrong with the age qualification constitutionally set for any aspiring council chairman in Nigeria
Apart from the teacher’s salaries, local governments are responsible for the payment of salaries and other remunerations of the local government employees whose union is NULGE. There was problem with local government staff salaries when the teachers’ salaries were not paid in the 1990s. The fact is that since the beginning of this republic, there has not been any problem with the payment of council workers salaries. I will then submit that if teacher’s salaries are put under the council bosses again, the problem will not occur. In appreciation of timely payment of their remunerations, the national president of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, his deputy and the entire union are in support of the autonomy.
I will also like to remind the teacher’s that the same period NUT was referring to was the period some state governors owed teachers and other civil servants up to six months salaries. Even now, some Northern state governors owe their teachers more than three months salaries according to the chairman Northern Governors Forum, Gov Aliyu Babangida of Niger State. Has anybody called for the states to stop paying the teacher’s salaries? The issue of Anambra state that owed the entire civil servants over 6 months salaries about 10 years ago ready comes to my mind now.Apart from that, there was a time Governor Suswam owed the state teachers over 12 months salaries.
I will like to submit that if anything, the entire populace should support the institution that will give strength and power to the local governments and strengthen them to the level of counties in the UK, USA, Canada and other developed federations. Conclusively, whatever institutional, operational or administrative set up which sanitizes the state to the point of having the confidence of the teachers should be structured in the local governments to enable our councils to perform.
Written by Mr. Akinyemi Akinlabi.
