Skip to content

Bestof9ja News

No. 1 News Blog for breaking news

Menu
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Gists
    • Opinion
    • Societal
    • Jobs and Empowerment
    • Education
    • Business hub
    • Relationship corner
  • Music
    • Gospel Music
    • Secular Bangers
      • 9ja Music
        • Music Abroad
  • App
  • Submit News
Menu

Refusal Of LG Autonomy Responsible For Insecurity Challenges – Ex-Benue Commissioner, Tondus

Posted on April 12, 2022

Refusal Of LG Autonomy Responsible For Insecurity Challenges – Ex-Benue Commissioner, Tondus

 

By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON

A 2019 Governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Surveyor John Tondus, has accused Nigerian governors of being responsible for insecurity in the nation, adding that the governors’ refusal to allow Local Government Autonomy is deliberate.

Hon Tondus, who is also a former Commissioner for Local Government in Benue State, said the state governors were making huge money from the insecurity in their respective states, hence they don’t want it to end.

Tondus made this allegations, Tuesday in Abuja, after he received an award of recognition from the National Association of Northern Nigerian Students as an Icon of Societal Development,

The PDP chieftain said the local government areas across the country are moribund because the governors have done everything to stifle their autonomy, stressing that the National Assembly should do everything possible to sustain the third tier of government because it is a government closer to the people and their autonomy should be quarantee at all means people.

He said the Local Government Councils are not fairing better because governors have decided to forced the chairmen to sign an agreement for operation of joint account such that once allocation comes the money goes straight to the account and whatever the governors decide to give them that is what they are to operate with despite it is always below the wage bill of the Councils.

According to him: “It is state governors that are responsible for the insecurity that is taking place in this country today. Because if the local and system is functional to an extent The local government will be in a position within considering the fact that they recruits local vigilante that knows every nook and corner of the LGA and be able to identify where criminals are hiding. But they are not empower to do that. So, even if they are willing they won’t be able to achieve that because the state governors are taking the resources meant for the local government.

“They made the local government chairman to sign despite the president determination to make sure that money meant for the LGAs goes to them directly. The state governors make the local government chairman to sign this monies into a joint account that are used for the purposes not meant for. Go into the local government and find out exactly the wage bill. Take 2 to 3 LGAs as a case study. What exactly is the wage bill of such local government?

“And how much is the month allocation for that local government? If you are able to established how much is the monthly wage bill of the local government, then ask the chairmen the surplus of this money. How do they utilize it that for this period that you are the chairman, there is no single one capital project that you can point to. And this money is also not there. How will you explain? You will come back and tell me the governors are responsible for the 85-95% of the insecurity that we are facing as a nation today”, he said.

He, however maintained that even if the LGAs are fixed, the insecurity will still not be addressed because it is a deliberate policies of the governors to ensure they are not working for the interest of the people.

He said it is sad that despite police, DSS and Civil defense are in the local government councils, little is known about them because hardly will the governors share from their security votes to the Local Government chairman.

“In fact the challenge we have as it concern insecurity today is because the third tier of government is not working. Some of us were born and brought up in the village. And we know how and when the local government system was effective. The local government chairman was elected by the people and not selected by the governors. I will take you back to the insecurity, we are talking about today. For instance in each local government headquarters, you have the police and the DSS. You have the NSCDC.

“But I will tell you that because I have the privilege of working in government, I will tell you for free that the local government chairman doesn’t have access to 2 million naira as security votes in that LGA. Where a local government chairman will need to spend 2 million on issues of security in a state, he will have to get across to the governor if such an approval will be given for him to be able to access the 2 million naira.

“Now, we are talking about insecurity which is an emergency situation, even the process and procedures the local government chairman will use to reach the governor, of course there are some that before they can reach the governor even once in a month. So, how will you be able to address the issues as chairman after being referred to as the Chief security officer of the local government on paper. That is the reality that you are not the chief security officer of the local government. So, lack of autonomy of the LGA contributes 75-80% of insecurity we are facing in our country today”, he stated.

On some of his experience on this salient issues security challenge that he has faced, he noted that since 2018, no single person lives in his local government council as people have deserted the place due to fear of attacks.

“My own personal home has been deserted since 1st of January, 2018. As I speak with you since that time till date, there is no Police in my community, Guma Local Government Area in Benue State. There is nobody in my community since on the 1st January, 2018. Nobody and the place has been deserted. And there is no conscious efforts to return my people back to their places.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RSS Punch Latest News

  • Guinness profit depreciates by 54 per cent over business costs February 8, 2023
      Guinness Nigeria Plc has reported a gain after tax of N4.02 billion, a 54.4 percent drop from N8.88 billion in December 2021. The decrease in profit resulted in the rising cost of operating business in Nigeria, attributed by rising inflation which affected the company’s cost of sales and operating expenses. This was disclosed by […]
    Damilola Olufemi
  • LAWMA workers to enjoy 20 per cent pay rise February 8, 2023
    The Lagos State Government has increased the salary of the Lagos Waste Management Authority workers in the State by 20 per cent. This was disclosed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni in the State. The PUNCH reports Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised waste managers under the aegis […]
    Damilola Olufemi
  • Fuel tanker explodes on Ore-Benin Expressway in Ondo February 8, 2023
    A fuel-laden tanker exploded on Wednesday on the Ore-Benin Expressway at Ore, in the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. It was the second of such explosions in the area in nine days as a kerosene tanker also burst into flames there on Jan. 31 roasting its driver, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. […]
    Agency Report
  • Supreme Court affirms Uba Sani as Kaduna APC gov candidate February 8, 2023
    The Supreme Court of Nigeria, on Wednesday, dismissed two appeals brought against the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State, Uba Sani, in the 2023 poll and the Independent National Electoral Commission. The appeals were filed by Sani Sha’aban, an in-law to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). Sha’aban, a former […]
    Godwin Isenyo
  • Politicians, voters biggest threats to successful election – Jega February 8, 2023
    A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has identified politicians and voters as the biggest threats to the success of the February 25 and March 11 general elections. He said while politicians have the mindset to achieve victory at all costs, win elections and see electoral contests as a “do-or-die” […]
    Friday Olokor
  • Peter Obi congratulates new NLC president Joe Ajaero February 8, 2023
      The presidential candidate of the Labour party, Peter Obi, has expressed his intention to work with the newly elected National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero. The PUNCH reports Ajaero, who until his emergence as president was the deputy national president of the labour union, made history by emerging unopposed as the union’s […]
    Damilola Olufemi
  • Abia govt kicks over plans to install ‘Emir of Aba’ February 8, 2023
    The Abia State Government has warned those allegedly behind the proposed installation of an Emir in the state. The government said such proposal was strange, illegal, and had no authorisation, adding that those behind the plan would face the full weight of the law if they did not desist from it. This state government’s warning […]
    Samuel Bolaji
  • New naira: Yobe banks divert N4.3bn, MFB official alleges February 8, 2023
    The Managing Director, Yobe Microfinance Bank, Sheriff Almuhajir, on Tuesday, alleged that the sum of N4.3 billion disbursed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to banks in the state had been diverted. Almuhajir made this allegation in a 4:31-seconds-video footage posted to his Facebook handle. He said, “I want to tell you that I got […]
    Lilian Ukagwu
  • Naira policy: CSOs storm CBN, protest Supreme Court order February 8, 2023
    The apex organisation of all civil society groups in Nigeria under the aegis of Civil Society Central Coordinating Council, on Wednesday protested against the exparte order given by the Supreme Court, restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria and the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), from terminating the use of the old N200, N500 and […]
    Friday Olokor
  • JUST IN: Ajaero emerges new NLC national president February 8, 2023
    The Nigeria Labour Congress, on Wednesday, elected Joe Ajaero as its national president. Ajaero, who until his emergence as president was the deputy national president of the labour union, made history by emerging unopposed as the union’s president. Ajaero, who until his emergence was also the general secretary of the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees, […]
    Samuel Bolaji

RSS Global Top Stories

  • More than 15,000 people killed in Turkey-Syria quake, officials say
  • LeBron James solidifies legendary status by becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer
  • More than 15,000 people killed in Turkey-Syria quake, officials say
    • Sister shields sibling from dust during 36-hour wait for help after quake • The earthquake in Turkey is one of the deadliest this century. Here's why
  • Spy balloon part of a broader Chinese military surveillance operation, US intel sources say February 9, 2023
  • Emotions run high in Turkey amid questions over state response to deadly quake February 9, 2023
  • Erdogan admits 'shortcomings' but pushes back against criticism, saying: 'It is not possible to be prepared for such a disaster' February 9, 2023
    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has admitted to "shortcomings" as it emerged his government restricted Twitter access amid growing anger over the state's response to the massive earthquake earlier this week, which is now known to have killed more than 11,000 people.
  • Why was the earthquake so deadly? February 9, 2023
    More than 11,000 people have been reported killed and tens of thousands of others injured by the devastating earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday.
  • 'Strong indications' Putin decided to give separatists the missile that downed MH17 in 2014, say Dutch investigators February 9, 2023
    There are "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the decision to provide separatists in Ukraine with the missile that shot down the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, Dutch investigators said Wednesday.
  • North Korea showcases suspected ballistic missile launchers in nighttime military parade, satellite imagery shows February 9, 2023
    North Korea held a nighttime military parade on Wednesday, commercial satellite imagery revealed, featuring what appeared to be its newest ballistic missile launchers.
  • 'Sushi terrorism' prank videos in Japan are hurting their famous conveyor belt restaurants February 9, 2023
    Sushi train restaurants have long been an iconic part of Japan's food culture. Now, videos of people licking shared soy sauce bottles and messing with plates of food on conveyor belts are prompting critics to question their prospects in a Covid-conscious world.
©2023 Bestof9ja News | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme
Share

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

WhatsApp

Copy Link
×