Constitution review: We want to empower INEC to conduct LG elections, says deputy speaker

Idris Wase, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, says the lower chamber is working to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct local government elections. 

Currently, the 1999 constitution empowers states to constitute “state independent electoral commissions, SIEC” to conduct local government elections.

But in recent times, the council elections have been trailed by controversy with some Nigerians alleging that state governors interfere in the process.

In 2020, Mike Igini, resident electoral commissioner of Akwa Ibom state, said local government elections in Nigeria are nothing but organised crime.

Speaking on Thursday, when he received a delegation of youths from all political parties, Wase said the green chamber will ensure that INEC is empowered to conduct local council elections in the ongoing constitution review.

The chairman of the constitution review committee also said the lawmakers will review the constitution to guarantee autonomy for the local government.

“You are helping us as a government in our key determinant areas regarding what Mr. President wants to leave as part of his legacy. You remember the intervention he made regarding the judicial autonomy and the financial independence of the local government,” he said.

“You are adding the secured tenure of the local government now. That is in tandem with what the present government wants to do in giving good governance at that level. I want to inform you that what we are trying to do in the constitutional amendment is to make sure that the financial autonomy is there, the independence of the local government is there. We are trying to achieve that by all standards.

“In terms of the tenure, we are trying to take away from the states and take it back to INEC so that we have a uniform system in terms of the election. Every one of us is aware that prior to 1999, we had a unified system and even after 1999, the tenure was three years. Their autonomy was apt and we had good governance. 60 percent of what we have as challenges in this country today will be sorted out if we have good governance at the local government level. I want to believe that the president is with you on this 100 percent.

“Today, we have 14 members of the house who benefited from the Not-too-young-to-run a bill that we passed.
Leadership is not about age. My brother Gowon was president at 32 and he did very well. So, it is not about the age, but about the determination of the person. Babangida was president at a very young age. The president was governor and minister at a young age and today, he is giving us the best.

“It is all about what we have to offer this country. I believe in the unity of this country. But the leadership recruitment process is what should matter to us. Who are we really bringing on board.

“It is not about age. All that we should do is to go out on the advocacy to ensure that those who are holding the country to ransom by ensuring that local government does not have their allocation give way.

“We should ensure that local government get their money so that we can have good governance through the independence of that tier of government and by so doing, you would have ensured that about 60 percent of the challenges are addressed.

“As a young man growing, I use to know of overseers who maintain the roads and markets and today, you don’t have that because they don’t have access to their funds. You should work with NULGE and others to ensure that this constitutional amendment does not end up under the table and that is realised so that we all have good governance.”