An Episode of a lecture delivered By; Mr Oyewo.O.O.
Nigeria second republic started on the 1st October,1979 under a new constitution, The new constitution provided for presidential system of government for the first time in the new governance and administration in Nigeria. Also,the new local government which was described as a water shed in the history of local government system in Nigeria was also put to test.
This republic lasted only four years, however by the end of this regime local government system in the country has been returned to the pre-1976 local government situation/reform.E.g state governors in most states of the federation abolished &proscribed democratically elected councils and returned caretaker committee who were more ready to be used as political instrument. Secondly,state governors proliferated i.e arbitrarily increased the numbers of local government within there States even when they are not financially viable. Specifically,the numbers of local government in Nigeria between 1979-1983 increased from 301-700 as a matter of fact it was only two States namely,rivers and ondo that did not create additional local government.
Thirdly,the statutory revenue provided for in the 1979 constitution was not adhere to, for example 10% of the monies accruable to federation account and the 10% of IGR of the state government were supposed to be given to local government within each states has part of the sources of there revenue.
However,states govt across the federation failed to remit thus percentage of there revenue to the covers. i.e the purse of local government within there jurisdiction. Fifthly,traditional ruler continued in there act of interfering in local government affairs,these and many more factors accounted for another sordid episode in the history of local government in Nigeria and it was on this basis that the military government of Muhammad Buhari in 1984 instituted another reform committee under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki.
However,this committee has not finished it assigned responsibilities before Buhari government was toppled on the 28 August,1985.
©Abdulkabeer Ibn Tijaniy Al-ibadanwiyy

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