Failure Of LG System A Threat To Security- PBAT

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed concern over the failing state of Nigeria’s local government system, warning that it poses a significant threat to national security and development.

Speaking at a one day national discourse on security and good governance in Abuja, organized by the house of representatives, the President called for urgent action to address the crisis, emphasizing the need for autonomy and empowerment of local governments.

Represented by Minister of Defence, Muhammed Abubakar, President Tinubu stressed that effective local governments are crucial for delivering essential services, promoting economic development, and addressing community needs.

He pledged his administration’s commitment to implementing measures aimed at strengthening the local government system, which he believes will reduce conflict and foster national prosperity.

“Sadly, the state of our local government system in Nigeria is a cause of concern, as its degradation, and incapacitation have continued significantly and have contributed significantly to our developmental setback and our inability to effectively address the prevailing national security threat.

“We find ourselves trapped in a paradoxical situation where the very areas most affected by security classes are rendered powerless and unable to mount any meaningful resistance or defence.

“Local governments are the frontline defenders against insecurity, as they are closest to the people and possess intimate knowledge of their communities’ needs and challenges. This is why some are advocating community policing, as a panacea to end security challenges”.

President Tinubu said the challenges of the country’s national security have persisted over time, posing a threat to our safety and well-being as a nation, adding that the scourge of insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminality, have inflicted untold suffering on people and undermined collective peace and prosperity.

According to him, It is imperative that the nation confronts those challenges ahead, if the country must move forward in the journey towards development.

“While various measures have been proposed and implemented, it is evident that ensuring the security of our people and our nation is a collective responsibility that requires the active participation of government at all levels as well as active collaborations of citizens.

President Tinubu said further that Local Governments, being the closest government to the people are strategically positioned to promote human security by delivering essential services like health, education, sanitation and social welfare programs directly to communities where they are most needed.

“They are important in ensuring that our communities are safe, prosperous and resilient. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to strengthen our local government system to effectively address those challenges.

“Empowering local government authority with the necessary resources and capacities to implement sustainable development initiatives, we can create a more secure and stable nation”.

“It is imperative to acknowledge that security is fundamentally about human beings, not just the state. After all, it is individuals who make up the state, not the other way around.

He said his administration was committed to implementing measures aimed at bolstering the local government system, saying, “This commitment is deeply rooted in our bottom-of-development approach.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji