The main motive of creation of Local Government was to bring governance to the grassroots and doorsteps of local people of Nigeria. When a government is made closer to the people, the accessibility to government would be made easier to attend to their felt needs. It was aimed at bringing wealth to the people, improve their standard of living and enhance their prosperity. Necessary legal backing was attached to the idea and Local Government existence was constitutionalised. We have three Tiers of Governments, Federal, State & Local Government. Each tier has its share of Monthly Statutory Allocations, apportioned as follows:
Federal, 42 %
State, 28%
Local Government, 20%
For ease of administration of Local Government, at the onset, Six Departments of Directorates were created: Personnel Management Department, Finance & Supplies Department, Agricultural Department, Education & Social Services, Primary Health Care Department, and Works, Transport Land and Housing Department. Each department was superintendent by substantive Director being a professional in his/her field.
There was also a political class headed by elected Chairman & Vice Chairman assisted by Supervisors who were appointed. The Supervisors oversaw each of the aforementioned department on behalf of the Chairman who was the Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Security Officer of the Local Government.
The arrangement and setup was in tandem with the enabling laws.
During Governor Alh Lamidi Adesina, the Local Government in Oyo State had financial crisis when some Local Governments were receiving zero statutory allocations due to huge personnel and overhead costs. In order to arrest the unwholesome development, Governor Lam led administration enacted law called, Joint Oyo State Government/ Local Government Account Committee which devised new indices/ parameters of distribution of allocations to each of the Local Government in the State.
Any law enacted has its profound advantages and shortcomings.
The Local Government Administration in Oyo State faired well and vibrant during the following administrations;
* Governor Lam Adesina
* Governor Adewolu Ladoja
* Governor Adebayo Alao Akala.
During the aforementioned tenures, the Local Governments in Oyo State were alive to the basic reason for their creation. The statutory allocations apportioned to each of the Local Governments were not abridged nor diverted but allowed to get to the coffers of the Local Governments originally meant for. This informed the outstanding performances of the Local Government on the functions ascribed to her by the constitution.
* Local Roads were constructed,
*Urban and Rural Electrification were accorded priority,
*Deep Wells Dug & Boreholes Sunk,
* New Markets Created with open and lock up shops constructed,
*Maternity Health Care Centres created with befitting building constructed and equipped with necessary drugs,
* Environmental Sanitation Exercise made the front burner,
*Culverts and Drainages were constructed.
*Many Public Toilets were constructed,
*Heavy Duties Machines such as Caterpillar, Bulldozer, Lowbed Vehicle, Tractor, Excavator, Skip Eater were procured for the Local Government.
* Scholarships were given to students
* Vocational Trainings were mounted to engage unemployed youths.
All the projects executed were carried out through either Direct Labour or Contract.The Direct Labour empowers the Works Department to execute the projects where all the personnel and material used are localized. It is a true exhibition of local content. If it is by contract, the appointed contractor is selected through open tender. He/She is an indigene who understands the terrain and make use of local personnel and materials.
* Governor Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi regime was fantastic during the first four years of his eight years tenure. He allowed the Local Government to operate without fetter. Many Kilometers of roads were constructed. Heavy Duty Machines such as Bulldozers, Lowbed Vehicles, Excavators and Tractors were purchased to ease the execution of her statutory functions.
Beautiful and befitting official cars were purchased for the Chairmen and Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA).
Monthly Imprest was paid to all HODs and Heads of Sections.
However, his second tenure was a shadow of what happened in his first stanza. The execution of projects meant for the Local Government were split into two, Local Government would do its own while the other one was contacted out by the State Government to its appointed contractors. The monthly statutory allocations being given the Local Governments were monitored with undue circulars and instructions for the use of the funds. The joy of it was that the allocation shared to the Local Governments were deposited into her coffers.
* Governor Seyi Makinde sees Local Government as an appendage of the State. After the payment of salaries of Local Government’s staff, the rest of the statutory allocations are used by the whim and caprice of the State Government. This informed the underdevelopment and impoverishment of the people of the Local Government and the State in general.
There is no shortcut to development than to channel public funds to the purpose it is meant. Local Government is a government of its own with defined functions entrenched in the constitution. If a government because of its superiority, siphons fund shared to the Local Government, it commits financial impropriety and embezzlement. A grave defalcation. The implication is that such government sabotages the collective will of the people and sniffs life out of them. Unarguably, untold hardship is being created. The funds that would have created jobs for the locals have been pocketed by the Governor and his cronies leaving the downtrodden impoverished.
