CHRAN advocates empowered, democratically elected LG chairmen to man councils

Etim Ekpimah

Appalled by state governors’ overbearing grip on local governments and the resulting poverty, the Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has urged Nigerians to rise and reclaim the councils.

A former People Democratic Party (PDP) National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem, said Nigeria was to achieve true development and participatory democracy, the local government system had to be revived, restructured and fully empowered by unambiguous provisions in the constitution.

Enoidem said this during the 2025 Annual Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Conference organized by The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) in conjunction with other human rights groups, in Uyo on Monday.

According to him, civil society has a critical role in pushing for reforms, demanding transparency, monitoring, implementation, and providing policy alternatives.

He added that the conference should not end with talk, but should spark actions for people to realise the roles of local government administrators in democratic governance.

“However, I must emphasise this: If Nigeria is to achieve true development and participatory democracy, the local government system must be revived, restructured and fully empowered by unambiguous provisions in the constitution.

“Civil society has a critical role in pushing for reforms, demanding transparency, monitoring, implementation, and providing policy alternatives. Today’s conference must not end with talk; it should spark action,” he said.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, “The State of Local Government Administration in Nigeria: A Case Study of Akwa Ibom State,” Enoidem noted that it could not have come at a more appropriate time than then.

Director, CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, said the event was an annual conference organised by the CHRAN for members of the civil society organisations, human rights groups, non-governmental organisations, professional bodies, trade unions and community-based organisations, among others in Nigeria.

He noted that the event was to enable Nigerians to rub minds and assess governments and governmental policies and programmes in all state of the federation.

Isong noted that over the years, the CHRAN had been organising the event using it to serve as a check and watchdog to governments across board.

As CSOs, we are mainly to bridge the gap between the governments and the people; promote accountability, transparency and delivery of good governance to the people; educate citizens about their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities; advocate for policies that improve governance, ensure development and promote human rights.

“In the year under review, to ensure accountability and oversight, CHRAN  monitored  government actions, such as policy implementation, public spending and service delivery.

“We also tackled and exposed corruption, waste, inefficiency and abuse of governmental powers at all levels; encouraged citizens participation in government by providing platforms for citizens to voice out their concerns, and mobilised communities for civic engagement, elections, and reforms.

“The CHRAN also ensured service delivery by supporting in areas where government services are weak like in health, education and humanitarian services.

“We also carried out conflict resolution and peace-building by intervening and mediating in disputes between individuals, families and communities, and promoted dialogue and understanding across ethnic, religious, or political divides.

“The Center, through seminars, conferences and other fora, ensured adequate capacity building by training citizens, community leaders and groups to participate in governance and as well strengthen local organisations and institutions.

“Government policies are regularly being influenced by the campaigns and advocacies mounted by the CHRAN on a daily basis. Our research works have provided evidence-based recommendations for effective laws and policies of governments.

“As a foremost pressure group, the CHRAN’s consistency in holding government accountable to the people has raised awareness and instilled confidence in the people who no longer view government as extraneous and self-serving,” he said.

Isong, having commended the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, in ensuring the release of all funds allocated to the 31 Local Government Councils of the State from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in compliance with the Supreme Court judgement with respect to Local Government funds, noted with dismay that Akwa Ibom State seems to be unlucky when it comes to Local Government administration.

He said, “The 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State under the present administration of Pastor Umo Eno have become 31 poverty brewing centers, which is a crying shame in the face of the huge monthly Federal allocations to the 31 Local Governments.

“We note, sadly, that since the inception of the current Council Chairmen, majority of them do not appear to know their functions as vested on them by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and that is anathema to good governance.

“The Local Government Chairmen have failed to provide the needed grassroots governance and developments to the people and this could be traceable to the recruitment process that brought them into office.

“The CHRAN notes the repeated public declarations of Governor Umo Eno with respect to Local Government funds and wish to commend him for not interfering with the monthly Federal allocations to the 31 Local Government Councils of Akwa Ibom State.”

Isong, however, urged Eno to carry out an urgent tour of the 31 Local Government Areas to assess the level of performance of the council chairmen in the past one year under his administration with a view to putting them on check and holding them accountable to the people of the state.

Keynote speaker, Dr Udeme Nana, said the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended set out in very bold relief, the functions of Local Government Councils in Nigeria.

He added that some of the functions include; the economic development of the state, particularly, in so-far as the areas of authority of the Council and of the State are affected; establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for the destitute and in; licensing of bicycles, trucks, canoes, wheel barrows and carts; establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, markets, motor parks and public conveniences.

He noted that others are naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses; provision and maintenance of public conveniences, sewage and refuse disposal; control and regulation of outdoor advertising movement and keeping of pets of all description shops and kiosks, restaurants, bakeries and other places for sale of food to the public licencing, regulation and control of the sale of liquor, and participation in the provision of primary, adult and vocational education the development of agriculture and natural resources other than the exploitation of materials. The provision and maintenance of health services.

He said, “In July 2024, the Supreme Court of Nigeria overreached itself by dabbling into legislation when it delivered a landmark judgment ruling that local government Councilsin Nigeria should receive funds directly from the Federation Allocation Accounts Committee, FAAC, and also manage their funds independently.The Supreme Court should only interpret the Constitution and not dabble into legislation.

“That verdict mandates local governments to run their councils without needing approvals from state governments. This means that local governments now manage their finances, collect revenue and budget for expenditure without any recourse to State governments.

“This new lease of life and status has freed more financial resources to the local governments.”