Elder statesman Chief Audu Ogbeh has called on the federal government to scrap the Local Government system if governors continue to hinder its functionality. Ogbeh, a former minister in the Second and Fourth Republics, expressed frustration with the current state of affairs.
“I can’t be sending you money that disappears,” Ogbeh said in a recent statement. “You don’t repair primary schools, you don’t do anything, the money vanishes, and they say they are paying workers, for which work? Strolling around in the morning and drinking palm wine? These are the issues. Those failures are creating dangerous problems for the country.”
Ogbeh’s comments highlight the long-standing issues with the Local Government system in Nigeria, where funds meant for development often go missing, and governors frequently appoint caretaker committees to bypass elected officials.
“If any governor sets up a caretaker committee, they should not receive any funds,” Ogbeh emphasized. “A caretaker is illegal, by the Supreme Court. Don’t send them cash, deduct their own and keep it.”
Ogbeh’s call for abolition comes as a response to the persistent challenges plaguing the Local Government system, including corruption, mismanagement, and political interference.
*What do you think? Should the Local Government system be abolished? Share your thoughts!*