Dr. Emmanuel Loman is the Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area; the chairman of the Plateau State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, as well as the Interim National Committee Chairman of ALGON. In this interview he bares his mind on the issue of autonomy of local government as well as on the insecurity threats which face the country. Excerpts:
By Marie-therese Nanlong
What is your perspective on the alleged opposition of the Plateau State House of Assembly to autonomy for local governments?
I want to believe that development is much needed in the grassroots and local government is a grassroots government. From the statutory allocation, the sharing formula in this country is not favourable to the local government despite the fact that development is mostly needed at the local government level.
The National Assembly came out with a proposal that was sent to the States Houses of Assembly to look into the approval for the autonomy of local governments but it is really unfortunate that most of the states are not in support of autonomy to the local government.
Social amenities
I’m really so disappointed because the point here is that members of the State Houses of Assembly came from various constituencies and these constituencies are their various local governments, they know all the problems in the local government, they know how social amenities are lacking there.
Given the claim that many local government chairmen are alleged to be corrupt in their dealings, don’t you think the rejection of autonomy is justified?
Logman
That is a myopic thinking that if funds are channelled directly to the local government, they will not be used properly. The point here is that we have three tiers of government, the federal, state and local government and basically all tiers ought to be autonomous.
We share from the federation account equitably but unfortunately, the federal and state governments go with the lion share of the funds. Corruption in this country cuts across all tiers of government, the issue here is that we should be thinking of how to address corruption from all tiers of government not only in the local government. Once corruption is addressed in the politics of the country, there is no Chairman that will be given funds for development and it will be diverted for something else.
What is ALGON’s relationship with the state government in terms of funds allocated to the local governments?
We want to thank God for the kind of leader we have on the Plateau. Since we came on board as chairmen, our funds have always been channelled directly to the purse of the local governments and that has enabled us to execute programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of the people.
For myself since I came on board in March this year, there were some ongoing projects but I have completed them, I have completed about seven projects and if you go to other local government, let me tell you the truth, you will find various developmental projects done by these present Chairmen. Go to Mikang local government and see what is happening, the chairman there has executed quite a number of projects.
Judicious use of funds
Jos South very close here, you will see projects, a very big stadium is there and other projects.
The governor has never for once said let him know how much is accrued to us or how much came from the federation but his warning has always been that we make judicious use of the funds accrued to us, we must provide amenities that our people will enjoy.
Certainly, the governor has laudable programmes for the State, he has repositioned the state and with what is happening, you can see for yourself that there are developments. He has equally transferred this kind of idea to the local government that is why we have development in the 17 local government areas.
Go to each of the local government headquarters and see the road networks there, it was an idea that was brought by the governor and I learnt some States are copying from him which is good. This is as the result of not tampering with our funds, if our funds were being tampered with, those developments will not be in place.
Are you satisfied with the way and manner relief materials are being distributed to victims of insecurity in the country?
I have been at the helm of affairs even here in Plateau and the crises that have engulfed my local government and what has been brought to us by NEMA is nothing to write home about compared to what I have heard as taken to other States. I believe in totality what you are saying. I took over as the Interim National Committee Chairman of ALGON and this is the third month, I have a mandate to hold an election and we have been meeting to see how we can hold the election.
It is true what is happening in this country needs urgent attention, people are not being treated equally as it should be. If you look at the crises that had engulfed Plateau State, the attention given to Plateau State is far less than what has been given to other States.
Even appointment at the federal level, Plateau state has been short-changed so automatically, you see that the federal character is not being respected when it comes to Plateau State at the federal level. What is the problem?
That is a very big question we need to answer; you see at times, people in government are the ones creating these crises, selfishness has been the order of the day, ethnicity, and religious sentiments are killing us, even in the political scene we are seeing it.
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