From David Christopher, Lafia
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said the much talked about autonomy for local governments may not succeed if there is no financial discipline at the third-tier of governance.
Governor Sule stated this while flagging-off a three-day training workshop for 100 directors of personnel management, planning, research and statistics, as well as directors of socials from the 13 local government areas and 18 development areas at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, NIPSS, on Wednesday.
According to the governor, full financial autonomy for local governments in the country is coming with mixed feelings because of the misconception in some quarters that autonomy means people will take funds belonging to the local government and just do whatever they want to do with it.
He said if some people are accusing governors of misappropriating local government funds, what stops local government chairmen from doing same since they are also Nigerians.
While restating that since July 2019, his administration has granted full autonomy to the 13 local government areas, the governor emphasized the need for participants to seek to remain above board and ensure due diligence in carrying out their responsibilities.
“For me, all these money received by the local governments, I have not seen any money, even one naira. If I want to do something wrong as a governor I will go through the commissioner of finance, I will go through the accountant general, I must go through them. That is the reason why I won’t do something wrong by the grace of God.
“The idea is that those accountants, those commissioners that are here, if you don’t accept, they will not do what is wrong. You must guide them. They will come as chairmen and politicians, but they will go. You are there. You will retire there,” he added.
He said with the World Bank’s disclosure that the solid minerals sector in Nigeria is worth over $700 billion, Nasarawa State has no reason to be poor, especially as it has tremendous potential in solid minerals.
Earlier, Governor Sule commissioned Nasarawa House, a building donated by the state government as part of its contribution to the growth and development of the national institute.
In his remarks, Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, Professor Ayo Omotayo, commended Governor Sule for sponsoring the participants, the largest contingent so far.
Professor Omotayo charged the participants to be focused and use the opportunity to learn.
“We open our doors to those that we believe can benefit from what we have to offer. When you come to NIPSS, it is not a joke. You are not allowed to be late for any engagement. You are expected to meet datelines and we expect you to forget that you are a big man. We have a lot of respect for you, but if you must learn, then it requires a lot of discipline, a lot of focus and you must be intentional about why you are here,” he said.
In his opening remarks, Barrister Mohammed Sani Bawa, Chairman of Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission, disclosed that the participants numbering 100 are directors of personnel management, directors of planning, research and statistics, as well as directors of socials from the 13 local government areas and 18 development areas of the state.
Barrister Bawa said the topic for the training workshop, “Policy and Strategy in Governance and Poverty Alleviation” was intended intended to expose the participants to modern approach to policy formulation towards solving the complex challenges associated with governance in the society.
He added that the topic was also intended to prepare technocrats in the local government well ahead of what is required of them to manage the third tier government, especially with autonomy.
