The Senate President Godswill Akpabio has revealed that the Nigeria Senate will have to amend the Nigerian Constitution to accommodate the autonomy of the Local Government system.
Akpabio stated that for the Local Governments to enjoy autonomy, the National Assembly have to amend the Constitution. This, he said, will ensure the implementation of the Local Government autonomy.
The Senate President stated this on Thursday when he received some defectors to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital.
This was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Media, Jackson Udom.
Udom quoted the Senate President to say that the National Assembly will ensure total autonomy of the Local Governments.
“I thank President Bola Tinubu, for looking for a way to bring the all needed autonomy to the Local Governments through the intervention of the Supreme Court.
“The Senate, under my leadership, will tinker with the Constitution. This is to ensure that the judgment is fully implemented without any loopholes for manipulation by the practitioners,” Akpabio said.
Recall that the Constitution Review Committee, CRC, of the 10th Senate chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, is working on the Constitution. Jubrin has pledged to conclude the exercise in 2026.
In July, a Bill seeking to establish a Local Government Independent Electoral Commission passed its first reading at the Senate.
The Bill is seeking to establish a National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission (NILGEC). The Commission will be responsible for conducting elections into the office of the Local Government Chairman and Councillors. It will also be responsible for any other matter thereof to do with Local Government.
Recall also, that the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment affirmed the financial autonomy of the 774 Local Government Areas.
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