Kayode Fayemi, the former governor of Ekiti, has argued that local government autonomy contradicts the principles of a federal system. Speaking on Thursday at the launch of a leadership and economic summit by St. Racheal’s People Consulting, Fayemi emphasized that in a true federal system, the states, not the federal government, should oversee local government operations.
The summit, themed ‘Economic Prosperity: Secrets of Audacious Leaders’, provided a platform for discussing leadership in Nigeria. Fayemi’s remarks came in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling mandating the federal government to pay allocations directly to local government councils, bypassing state governments, which have been accused of misusing these funds.
Fayemi expressed concern that this decision does not address the underlying socio-economic and security issues plaguing Nigeria. He warned against the trend towards unitarianism, stressing that Nigeria is constitutionally a federation comprising the central government and the states, not a three-tier system.
“We cannot return to a unitary state. But unfortunately, we are gradually going back to a unitary form of government even though it is being dressed up as restructuring,” he stated. Fayemi described the concept of local government autonomy as a “misnomer and aberration,” arguing that in federations like India, the US, Canada, or Australia, states or provinces determine their local administrative structures.
He criticized the federal government’s involvement in local government affairs, predicting that this approach would be unworkable and ineffective. “This is not the solution, we are unitarising the country instead of decentralising it. We need to really drill down to the local level to resolve critical issues like security and energy,” Fayemi argued.
He emphasized that fixing these two problems could significantly improve Nigeria’s prospects. “We cannot solve all the problems from Abuja. If we fix electricity and security, Nigeria will fly.”
### Youth Despondency: A Ticking Time Bomb
Fayemi also highlighted the growing despondency among Nigerian youth, describing it as a potential threat to national stability. He urged leaders to adopt a visionary and resolute approach to reforms that benefit the populace. “Leadership is sacrifice. We don’t treat leadership as a sacrifice in Nigeria. We just have to do things differently if we want this country to go the right way,” he asserted.
He warned that if the current feelings of despondency, especially among the youth, are not addressed, Nigeria could face significant challenges. “The time bomb is ticking. We are going to run into a major problem if we don’t address this feeling of despondency,” he cautioned.
Fayemi called for a change in the electoral system to proportional representation, advocating for a government of national unity where all groups with significant votes have a stake. He argued that this inclusive approach would foster collective effort towards national success.
Concluding his address, Fayemi stressed that Nigeria’s progress depends on the collective contributions of its citizens and the need for strong leadership to rebuild trust and address the nation’s challenges. He called for a shift in values and a sense of responsibility among Nigerians to drive societal progress.
(dailyPost)