Repositioning the Local Government System for Sustainable Development through Constitution Review”

TEXT OF LECTURE DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR IKE EKWEREMADU CFR, DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT A SEMINAR ON “REPOSITIONING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ADMINISTRATION TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF VISION 20-20-20” ORGANISED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF NIGERIA (ALGON) AND THE OFFICE OF THE SGF ON 6TH JULY 2009 AT THE SHEHU MUSA YAR’ADUA CENTRE, ABUJA



“Repositioning the Local Government System for Sustainable Development through Constitution Review”

Protocol
Introduction

I am indeed happy and count it an honour and great opportunity to brainstorm with this gathering of important stakeholders in our quest for sustainable national development.
Though the invitation to this seminar and request to deliver this lecture was at a relative short notice, I did not hesitate to honour the invitation in person for so many reasons. I place premium on the local government system, being the closest tier of government to the people and a very critical factor in national development and the realization of the Vision 20-20-20. Importantly too, the local government system and the grassroots remain the genesis and cornerstone of my political career. So, for me, this event is a great reunion, having served as the Chairman of the Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State. This seminar is an uncommon opportunity for me to share ideas with my colleagues from the hindsight of a road trod before and of one who had once won the shoe and knows where it hurts.



As an active player in the quest for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution since the 5th Senate and the Chairman of the present National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review, I total subscribe to inclusiveness, participation, and consultation as indispensable elements of an acceptable, effective, and credible review of the 1999 Constitution. In fact, this is my second lecture on the constitution amendment in a space of about one month. On the 4th of June, I shared ideas with other critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project and the constitution review at the 2nd Alumni Homecoming of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus vide a lecture entitled “10 Years of Democracy and the Quest for the Amendment of the 1999 Constitution”.


Therefore, before I proceed, I wish to appreciate the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for their thoughtfulness in putting this seminar together to enrich discourses in topical development challenges facing the local government system and to build the capacity of these key players for better governance and administration of the local councils towards the achievement of Vision 20-20-20. This event, coming on the heels of Nigeria’s unprecedented 10 uninterrupted years of democracy, is a clear appreciation of the fact that democracy is not an end in itself, but a means which can best be sustained through good governance and practical improvement on the lives of our citizens. Incidentally, an overwhelming majority of our citizens live in the rural areas. Therefore, I count this seminar as indicative of a popular commitment to better the lots of a majority of Nigerians and by so doing consolidate our democracy.



I was given the freedom to frame the topic of this presentation around the seminar theme vis-à-vis the constitution review. My choice of this topic is underlined by the fact that the local government system could do much better if it is constitutionally and positively repositioned to deliver on its mandate. And I believe the ongoing process of the 1999 Constitution amendment presents yet another opportunity to reform and strengthen the local government system to be more effective and efficient in contributing to grassroots and national development. Constitutionally well restructured, empowered and well administered local governments are catalysts for sustainable national development. I believe that Vision 20-20-20 can succeed better if local governments are empowered to key in optimally to the vision. I will thus strive to highlight several vital facets of the subject–matter to help engender as well as widen discourse in our quest for a more utilitarian local government system through constitution-making and democracy in Nigeria.
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