Yakasai Criticizes Afenifere’s Call to Remove LGAs from the 1999 Constitution
Second Republic politician Tanko Yakasai has criticized the Yoruba socio-cultural organization Afenifere for its recent call to remove the list of local government areas (LGAs) from the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Speaking to Sunday Sun from Abuja over the weekend, Yakasai emphasized that this issue is primarily a constitutional matter and cannot be implemented without involving the National Assembly. He pointed out that the legislators are currently working on amending the constitution and advised Afenifere to formally present their proposal to the National Assembly as required by the constitutional process.
Yakasai warned that the group’s position, regardless of its justification, would undermine the development of the third tier of government and negatively impact grassroots communities.
Recently, Afenifere advocated for the deletion of the LGA list from the 1999 Constitution to promote true federalism. In a communiqué issued after a special meeting of its national caucus on Tuesday, Afenifere criticized the Federal Government’s suit seeking full autonomy for the country’s 774 LGAs. The meeting, held at the residence of Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo, described the LGA autonomy suit as indicative of the government’s reluctance to restructure the country.
Afenifere argued that the Federal Government’s efforts would be futile unless Section 162 (6) of the 1999 Constitution was amended. Section 162 (6) mandates that each state maintain a State Joint Local Government Account for all allocations to the local government councils from both the Federation Account and the state government.
Afenifere asserted that LGA affairs should be managed by the federating units and that including LGAs in the Constitution contradicts the principles of federalism.
Yakasai Criticizes Afenifere’s Call to Remove LGAs from the 1999 Constitution.
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