Kwara ex Councillors protest over non payment of arrears
Ex Councillors in Kwara state protested outside Kwara Government house on Wednesday over outstanding arrears they were been owed.
It has been argued that the states of the federation should allow local government autonomy so that people at the grassroots would be able to enjoy dividends of democracy to the fullest.
That local government is adjudged the closest to the grassroots implies bringing forth dividends of democracy in terms of provisions of social amenities and good governance to the remotest part of the community.
Although, reasons of taking their protest to the state government instead of the Local government Chairman is yet to be ascertained, The spokesman of the state government has disclosed that the state is not responsible for the said arrears as the Councillors served local government councils, a separate tier of government which gets it allocation directly from the Federal Government as does the state government.
The state government promised to support the councils to pay these and other arrears.
It was reported that N2b was released to local councils, including N100m, towards offsetting the arrears owed political office holders, out of the recent Paris Club Refund as well as the ongoing efforts to shore up their internally generated revenue.
The question still remain,should states of the federation allow LG autonomy ?
