The Senate has advised President Bola Tinubu to initiate a national dialogue to discuss the road map towards achieving full local government autonomy.
The Senate, who also urged the President to kick-start the advocacy for full autonomy for local governments in the country, explained that it is a way to curb insecurity, rural-urban migration, decaying infrastructure, and widespread unemployment.
The upper chamber clarified that the national dialogue will involve governors, state legislators, local government officials, civil society organizations, and community leaders.
The lawmakers, who described the local government as the most abused tier of government, however, called for the amendment of the 1999 constitution to catalyze such independence.
The senate minority leader, Senator Abba Moro, recalled that over 17 states are currently operating a caretaker committee in the local government, creating an impasse in the local government administration.
He insisted that no effort should be spared in investigating the abuse of the system.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represents Anambra South, revealed that Anambra State has not conducted local government elections in the last 18 years.
He asserted that the non-implementation of the 1999 framework has become a major impediment to the independence of the local government system.
