LG VS STATES REFORMS: OSHIOMHOLE AND BABA AHMED AT DAGGERS DRAWN @ SIR AHMADU BELLO 1ST ANNUAL MEMORIAL LECTURE.H.E. JONATHAN,FRANK UKONGA, LAMIDO VINDICATED

1ST ANNUAL SIR AHMADU BELLO MEMORIAL LECTURE IN ABUJA

FROM LEFT: GOV. ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE OF EDO; GOV. ALIYU BABANGIDA OF NIGER; SPEAKER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE, AMINU TAMBUWAL; AND THE GUEST SPEAKER PROF. IBRAHIM GAMBARI AT THE 1ST ANNUAL SIR AHMADU BELLO MEMORIAL LECTURE IN ABUJA ON MONDAY (3/12/12).

LG VS STATES REFORMS: OSHIOMHOLE AND BABA AHMED AT DAGGERS DRAWN @ SIR AHMADU BELLO 1ST ANNUAL MEMORIAL LECTURE.H.E. JONATHAN,FRANK UKONGA, LAMIDO VINDICATED

On Monday the third of December was a hot day in Abuja at the first annual Memorial Lecture of Sir Ahmadu Bello first Premier of Northern Region organized by the Nigerian Economic summit and many top dignitaries of the Nigerian Federation attended.
Preambles:
Hottest on the list of topics that was discussed was the issue of the Local Government autonomy from the state Governments which has been an issue being promoted by Prince Frank Onaivi Ukonga a governorship candidate of Edo State in the July 14 Gubernatorial polls. Ukonga wants full autonomy for the Local Governments in Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan has backed Prince Frank Ukonga to liberate the Local Government from the slavery and bondage and prison of the state governors and the die is caste...
FRANK UKONGA LECTURE ON STATE OF THE UNION: The first salvo on the LG/states feud was shot by Prince frank Onaivi Ukonga in his monthly state of the Nation lectures were he canvased for autonomy for the Local government, separation of accounts and independent election systems for the Local government and advised the Local Government two weeks ago to go to court over the issue . Last week the Local Government union ALGON has gone to court on the issues of Joint Accounts and elections etc following the advice of Prince frank Ukonga.
President Goodluck Jonathan and Malam Sanusi Lamido: The President of the Nigerian Federation backed Prince frank ukonga's notation 4 days ago and promised to do his best to fight for Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria while Malam Sanusi Lamido also backed Prince Frank Ukonga views of state vs local Government and to stop states Governors from usurping the accounts, funds, duties and functions of the LG.

OSHIOMHOLE REPLIES JONATHAN, UKONGA AND LAMIDO AT AHMADU BELLO MEMORIAL LECTURE 1: Governor Adams Oshiomhole at the Amadu Bello First Annual Memorial lecture lashed at Prince Frank Ukonga, President Jonathan  Malam Sule Lamido and other critiques that supports the autonomy of the local Government saying that the Federal Government is to blame for Nigerians foes since it takes 52% of the allocation of Nigeria while 28% is given to the 36 states of the federation to shear. He observed that this is an anomaly and that to whom much is given much is also expected. He compered the situation to that of governors being angels with only 28% and perhaps liking performances as equitable with the resources available to them.
ALHAJI BABA AHMED BLAST GOVERNORS: Alhaji Baba Ahmed blasted all Nigerian governors and canvassed for autonomy of local government from state government and warned that the state governors are planning to hijack the Local government allocation constitutionally and that this should not be allowed.
CONCLUSION: In our own view at National Peoples News and the views of our President of National Peoples News Prince Frank Onaivi Ukonga is full autonomy for local Government, Separation of Accounts, and conducting independent elections for local Government,  Stopping governors from dissolving local government and appointing their cronies and friends to loot the LG.ETC.And above all Frank Ukonga has the support of the President of Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan and that of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria in this battle with the Nigerian Governors to Wrestle out of their bondage the local Governments of Nigeria so that the dividends of democracy can trikle down to the rural areas and to the low and down trodden of the Nigerian federation. We call on all men and women of goodwill the world over to put pressure on the Nigerian senate and Assembly to give full independence to Local Governments in Nigeria
LONG LIVE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
PRINCE FRANK UKONGA
GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE EDO 2012 ELECTIONS

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SDMP/NRP, FALAE, FRANK UKONGA CONDOLE H.E GENERAL MOHAMMADU BUHARI OVER THE DEATH OF HIS FIRST DAUGHTER

SDMP/NRP, FALAE, FRANK UKONGA CONDOLE H.E GENERAL MOHAMMADU BUHARI OVER THE DEATH OF HIS FIRST DAUGHTER
The entire members of SDMP/ NRP and the Chairman of SDMP H.E. Chief Olu Falae, Prince Frank Onaivi Ukonga- Presidential Aspirant 2015, condole with H.E. General Mohammadu Buhari at the passing to glory of his first daughter Zalaiha Muhammadu Buhari and we pray that God almighty grant her soul a peaceful journey to eternity. We also pray that Allah grant the family of H.E.General Mohammadu Buhari fortitude to be able to bear this irreparable loss.All the members of staff of National Peoples News also extend their sympathies and pray for the soul of Zalaila . May her soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.

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H.E.JONATHAN, ALGON, AND FRANK UKONGA CANVASS FOR SEPERATION OF STATE/ LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT ACCOUNT

H.E.JONATHAN, ALGON, AND FRANK UKONGA CANVASS FOR SEPERATION OF STATE/ LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT ACCOUNT

H.E. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN OFFERED THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS ON STATE/ LG JOINT ACCOUNT:
"One issue affecting the local governments that the President is concerned about is the state-local government joint account. It erodes the autonomy of the local governments. The framers of the constitution did not envisage that the account will be run the way it is being run.
"The joint account means that allocation from the Federal Government and internally generated revenue must be put together for sharing but unfortunately, most local governments don't get up to 20 per cent.

How do the local government chairmen function without funds? It is for this reason that President Jonathan is fighting for full autonomy of the local government. So continue to mobilize and sensitise people for the amendment to come through."

Lawyer sues Finance Minister, AGF: ALGON ON THE MOVE:
The President spoke as a lawyer, Raymond Onyegu, dragged the Finance Minister and the Attorney General of the Federation before a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop statutory allocations to councils without elected chairmen.
Speaking at the forum, Onyegu, who lamented that 25 of the 36 states of the federation do not have elected governments while Anambra State has not held council polls since 1998, said a judgement of the Supreme Court holds that statutory allocation is meant for democratically elected local councils and not care-taker or transition committee chairmen.

 
Prince Frank Ukonga in his monthly State of the Union Lecture said:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS: The separation of the state government account from the Local government account. The joint account system of the Nigerian Federation between the states and Local Government was done to put a kind of tacit control over the local government in the context of corruption and mismanagement by some erring local government chairmen but the governors who ware in charge as a check and balance concept, have usurped these local government funds and use the funds at their own whims and caprices. So it becomes imperative to give financial autonomy to the Local Governments and each local government Chairman will be held responsible by the EFCC and other anti corruption agencies in the case of looting and miss management. This will re awaken local government chairmen to their responsibilities and make the post more attractive and important to the federation as a developmental unit.

2.       LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS: The dates of the terms of office of Local Government Chairmen ad their elected governing council and councilors be clearly spelt out and the new dates for another election be adhired to strictly. As soon as one term expires the Federal Government will cease to pay allocation to that local Government until another elected chairman take over office. This carrot and stick diplomacy will set new anxieties in the system that will encourage the Governors to conduct Local Government elections as at when due.

3.       DISSOLUTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT GOVERNING COUNCIL AND APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATORS: State governors are to be banned from dissolving the elected Local Governments Executives and appointing new unelected Administrators for Local Governments. The issue here is that a serving elected Local Government Executive will continue to serve in that capacity until when an election is conducted and another Local Government Chairman emerges. On no condition must the State Governors be allowed in the new constitution to dissolve the duly elected members of the Local Government and replace them with appointed unelected Administrators. These far reaching powers given to the state Governors corrupted the systems of the Local Governing council concept of the Nigerian Federalism. It is fundamentally, dialectically and historically an insult to intelligence that a duly elected Local Government Council will be dissolved by a serving Governor and appoint in their place his friends, cronies, buddies and relations to loot the Local Government treasuries dry..

4.       THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION: ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS UNDER THE CONTROL OF STATE GOVERNORS OR INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENTAL CENTRES OF THE NIGERIAN FEDERATION: Local Governments under the constitution are the grass root governing platform addressed to be closer to the people and as developmental centres with statutory functions to develop the various small units of which the Nigerian Federation has been divided into 774 units for the purpose of reaching out to the majority of the peoples of Nigeria. The Local Government have a Chief Executive Officer in person of the Local Government Chairman who is the Chief Security officer of the Local Government and also have his Supervisory councilors that play the role of Commissioners as in State level or Minister as in the Federal level. He also have a Legislative arm with Coate of Arm, elected Speaker and councilors that presides over his budget and the day to day running of the Local Government including formulating policies and passing bills for the purpose of developing the Local Government Council. So invariably the Local Government is a federating unit where everything that the Federal and state structures has is duplicated and replicated on the grass root level. The fundamental question of whether the Local Government is under the state Government in the aspect of control will cease to exist if the Local Governments through the association of Local Government Councils ALGON, seeks a legal clarification in the Supreme court for the purpose of putting the record straight and gaining autonomy. But from philosophical point of view I think the Local Government is independent of the state government, but should function in partnership with the state Governments. The degree of cooperation and subordination is what is at variance and the crucial aspect of the vexing issues.

5.       LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS FEDERATING UNITS: From the above it becomes belated and unnecessary to ask the question whether Local Governments are Federating units as it is obvious as truth self evident that they are the 3ed tier of Federating units of the Nigerian federation and this should be clearly spelt out in the constitutional amendment.

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H.E. President Goodluck Jonathan

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORMS: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, FRANK UKONGA, SANUSI LAMIDO SLAM GOVERNORS

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, declared his readiness to fight for full autonomy for the local councils, saying no meaningful development could be achieved in the country if the councils were not vibrant and not allowed to function.
He spoke on the second day of the 13th annual extra-ordinary general assembly and national conference with the theme "Rediscovering the Nigerian local government system in the emerging constitution" organised by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, in Enugu.
The President, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, said since the councils were the closest tier of government to the people, the rising wave of insecurity in the country would have been reduced if they were functioning well.
He also expressed his opposition to the state/local government joint account, noting that the councils have a special role to play in his transformation agenda, which they were not doing currently. He also wondered if the local government councils were getting their share of the subsidy fund.

President Goodluck Jonathan berates govs:
Jonathan's support for the local councils is coming against the background of the continuing efforts by governors through the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, to dislocate the councils from being recognised as federating units like the states.
NGF chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, had earlier this week told a delegation of the House of Representatives Committee on Youths and Social Development that the governors would oppose suggestions to give the councils autonomy from the states and make them part of the federating units.
According to Jonathan, "vibrancy in the local governments means the constitution is functioning. Tenure of local governments depends on the whims and caprices of the state governors. That should not be so. The tenure of our local governments, whether three or four years, should be clearly defined in the Constitution.
"The President has no right to wake up and say he has dissolved a state government. So why must a state governor dissolve a council? Why are we following the constitution in breach? We must live up to our duty and expectation of upholding and defending the constitution.
"The President is 100 per cent in support of ALGON because the Local Government is the closest tier of government to the people.
He is in support of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which says that at every given time the local government must be democratically elected. The situation where some governors dissolve local governments is unconstitutional, illegal and unsustainable

.
Prince Frank Ukonga in his monthly State of the Union lectures offered the following observations

 

FRANK UKONGA BLAST GOVERNORS: As the saying goes that absolute powers corrupt absolutely, that phenomenon has manifested in the Nigerian case study were the governors dissolves the elected Local Government leadership and take over all the 774 local governments in the federation, take over their financial allocations, taxes, counterpart funding and refuse to conduct Local Government elections, but instead ruling the Local Governments with appointed administrators , most of whom are party loyalist and their friends and relations turning the entire process of Local government into irrelevance in the schemes of things. Little wonder therefore is the portable contributions of the Local governments’ structure to the advancement and development of the polity, acute corruption and trivialization of local Governing concept.

This usurpation of the duties, powers, finances and functions of the Local Governments by the state governors goes contrary to constitutional setting of the three tier of governance structure and the relevance of each structure. It is like saying for example that the federal Government should usurp the powers of the state governors and makes the governors increasing irrelevant in the schemes of things. Nigerians and peoples of goodwill the world over will not like that concept were the FG usurps the powers , finances and functions of the state governors, it becomes consequential that the state governors' usurping the duties, rights , functions and finances of the Local Government Chairmen is dialectically and historically wrong and constitutionally an aberration and that something quick and strong must be done to strengthen the Local Governments to it proper constitutional status were it can adequately wake up to the responsibilities of service delivery to the electorate

H.E. SANUSI LAMIDO BLAST GOVERNORS, SENATORS, ETAL

 

H.E. Sanusi Lamido Governor of CBN blasted the Governors , Senators and LG structures saying that the cost of governance is too high in Nigeria. He said about 70% of Nigerian income is being spent on recurrent expenditures to pay salaries and overheads leaving a pastry sum of 30 % to capital expenditure and the future which he said is abysmal and recommended a pruning down of government spending. Earlier in 2012 he had said that about 25% of Nigerian income is being used by the senate and the House of Representatives to make laws which is really on the high side. He also blasted on the bloated expensive life style of the Nigerian Governors and observed that most states are not financially viable.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORMS:PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, FRANK UKONGA SANUSI LAMIDO SLAM GOVERNORS

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORMS:PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, FRANK UKONGA SANUSI LAMIDO SLAM GOVERNORS
ENUGU — President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, declared his readiness to fight for full autonomy for the local councils, saying no meaningful development could be achieved in the country if the

councils were not vibrant and not allowed to function.
He spoke on the second day of the 13th annual extra-ordinary general assembly and national conference with the theme "Rediscovering the Nigerian local government system in the emerging constitution" organised by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, in Enugu.
The President, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, said since the councils were the closest tier of government to the people, the rising wave of insecurity in the country would have been reduced if they were functioning well.
He also expressed his opposition to the state/local government joint account, noting that the councils have a special role to play in his transformation agenda, which they were not doing currently. He also wondered if the local government councils were getting their share of the subsidy fund.

Lawyer sues Finance Minister, AGF
The President spoke as a lawyer, Raymond Onyegu, dragged the Finance Minister and the Attorney General of the Federation before a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop statutory allocations to councils without elected chairmen.
Speaking at the forum, Onyegu, who lamented that 25 of the 36 states of the federation do not have elected governments while Anambra State has not held council polls since 1998, said a judgement of the Supreme Court holds that statutory allocation is meant for democratically elected local councils and not care-taker or transition committee chairmen.

President berates govs
Jonathan's support for the local councils is coming against the background of the continuing efforts by governors through the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, to dislocate the councils from being recognised as federating units like the states.
NGF chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, had earlier this week told a delegation of the House of Representatives Committee on Youths and Social Development that the governors would oppose suggestions to give the councils autonomy from the states and make them part of the federating units.
According to Jonathan, "vibrancy in the local governments means the constitution is functioning. Tenure of local governments depends on the whims and caprices of the state governors. That should not be so. The tenure of our local governments, whether three or four years, should be clearly defined in the Constitution.
"The President has no right to wake up and say he has dissolved a state government. So why must a state governor dissolve a council? Why are we following the constitution in breach? We must live up to our duty and expectation of upholding and defending the constitution.
"The President is 100 per cent in support of ALGON because the Local Government is the closest tier of government to the people.
He is in support of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which says that at every given time the local government must be democratically elected. The situation where some governors dissolve local governments is unconstitutional, illegal and unsustainable.

Joint account
"One issue affecting the local governments that the President is concerned about is the state-local government joint account. It erodes the autonomy of the local governments. The framers of the constitution did not envisage that the account will be run the way it is being run.
"The joint account means that allocation from the Federal Government and internally generated revenue must be put together for sharing but unfortunately, most local governments don't get up to 20 per cent.
How do the local government chairmen function without funds? It is for this reason that President Jonathan is fighting for full autonomy of the local government. So continue to mobilize and sensitise people for the amendment to come through."
Culled from Vanguard.

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NIGERIA IN DANGER: BOKO HARAM UNLEASH TERROR IN MILITARY CANTONMENT IN JAJI, BOMB CHURCH, KILLS 13, WOUND OVER 30 PEOPLE

NIGERIA IN DANGER: BOKO HARAM UNLEASH TERROR IN MILITARY CANTONMENT IN JAJI, BOMB CHURCH, KILLS 13, WOUND OVER 30 PEOPLE

The Islamic sect named Boko Haram has unleashed fresh terror in the Army cantonment in Jaji in Kaduna state in the Church of st Andrews Protestant Church at about 12. 30 pm . Two suicide bombers on in a bus and another in a Camry car gained access to the church premises on Sunday yesterday the 25th of November 2012. The bus rammed into the church killing 13 peoples and wounding over 30 peoples. The commandant of the cantonment Brigadier General Koleoso was said to have confirm this incidence.

Basiru Ayandiran

 Desk Editor

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URGENT MATTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW; OSUN STATE OF NIGERIA VS STATE OF OSUN: NOTATIONS OF PIUS AYIM- SECRETARY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE 7TH REPUBLIC:

H.E. RAUF AREGBESOLA

9.       URGENT MATTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW; OSUN STATE OF NIGERIA VS STATE OF OSUN: NOTATIONS OF PIUS AYIM- SECRETARY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE 7^TH REPUBLIC: In August 2012 when officials from Osun State of Nigeria visited the Secretary to the Government of the 7^th Republic Dr Pius Ayim, He chided the Osun state official about the alteration in the status of Osun state to the new status of STATE OF OSUN. Here it may appear simplistic to the uninitiated minds but to the esoteric minds it is an invitation to tacit secession which the erudite secretary cautioned the officials about. Here it is a direct pointer that the Osun state by changing its name to State of Osun declares its own tacit independence and sovereignty in philosophical argumentum. And this new constitutional status passed by the Osun State House of Assembly is a direct secessionist bid and with this new status THE STATE OF OSUN can now exercise prerogatives above any other sovereignty or at pall, with de facto, de jure instances of governance. In this context the new State of Osun can function as a Country with de facto, de jure recognitions. The new State of Osun can create its Local Governments Areas, can take full responsibilities for its security by floating a parallel security initiative to that of the Federal Police structure, can have its defense initiatives, can have its Customs unit, Immigration force, own fleets of Aircraft for the state Chief Executive officer, own its flag, coate of arm, Seals, can even prints its money… can have Embassies round the entire world , can borrow, lend, raise developmental finance from any where in the world and can make the Federal structure as irrelevant to them in the schemes of things as they want… this potent great dangers to the mutuality of collegiate 3 Tier of governance structures and the constitutional amendment must as a matter of urgency address this issues.

bby Dr Patrick Iwebo

National Director of Reserch and Development

National Peoples News

 

 

 

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