An activist, Mr Bishir Dauda, yesterday said total financial autonomy of the 774 local government councils in Nigeria will reduce poverty, unemployment and insecurity bedeviling the country.
Dauda disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina.
“Don’t forget, local councils were created to bring governments more closer to people. That is how you can deliver good to the grassroots.
“LGCs should be allowed to enjoy financial autonomy, like the state governments have.
“There is no way in Nigeria to address the challenges of poverty and insecurity if our LGCs are not independent.
“We want local governments that are independent and autonomous, if we really want to address poverty and insecurity,” he said.
The activist, therefore, called on the 36 State Governors to honour the verdict of the Supreme Court that ordered them to ensure full financial autonomy to the third tier of the government.
He further emphasised that poverty and unemployment were the root causes of criminal acts.
Dauda, therefore, urged that drug abuse and trafficking must also be roundly combated to enhance fight against criminal activities.
He pointed out that most of the criminal acts were committed under the influence of drugs, calling on the state governments to intensify efforts in prioritising agriculture and solid mineral sectors.
Dauda said that prioritising those sectors would further assist to create more jobs, also reduce poverty and attain food security in the country.
The activist appealed that the governments should make agriculture more attractive by supporting farmers with inputs at subsidised rates.
He commended Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State, for reviving agricultural extension service, where he engaged over 700 extension service workers and gave each of them a motorcycle and other working materials.
Dauda further applauded the government for establishing a ‘Agricultural Mechanisation Centre’, aimed at supporting farming activities across the 34 local government areas of the state.