OGSG Harps On Due Process In Traditional Institutions, LG Administration
Ogun State Government has called on kingmakers to be upright, fair and sincere in selecting the right heir for any stool and ensure that due process was followed in the event of choosing traditional rulers, in order to mitigate various crises and challenges facing the traditional institutions in the State.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Afuape stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Abeokuta, saying concerned members of the society should always have a common front in the selection process, to guide against tussle among families, traditional councils and the government.
According to Afuape, the whitepaper on the 75 Obas, upgraded and promoted at the twilight of Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led Administration would be released as soon as the Executive Council finalised on the report submitted by the Committee, for concerned public to know their fate.
He noted that Governor Dapo Abiodun-led Administration had received various petitions and litigations on chieftaincy matters, reiterating that procedures for selection of Obas should be followed, in line with the State laws and regulations.
Speaking on Local Government Administration, the Commissioner hinted that the State would maintain its original 20 Local Government Areas and make them more vibrant and independent, for effective delivery of dividends of democracy to the citizens.
He said since the inception of the present administration, the Federal Government through the Nigerian Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU) had given financial autonomy to the Local Government Areas, such that their allocation goes directly into their accounts, making it impossible for any State government to meddle with the funds.
The Commissioner noted that the State Government only has supervisory roles to perform on the Council Areas and assist them when the need arises, adding that plans were on to have a model village, where necessary infrastructures would be put in place, thereby reducing rural-urban drifts.
“The Local Government Areas since the inception of this administration has been receiving their allocation directly from the Federal Government, the State’s responsibility now is to carry out a supervisory role, come to their aids whenever they have challenges, just the way Federal Government came to the aid of the State government by giving them bail out sometimes ago”, Afuape said.
He advised the Local Government Administrators to improve on their internally generated revenue so that they would have enough funds to carry out projects that would outlive their tenure, in support of the “Building Our Future Together” agenda.
