By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
Calabar—Local government councillors across the nation have appealed to the Federal Government and the National Assembly to abolish the joint account principle between states and local governments.

The councillors, under the aegis of Federation of Local Government Councillors of Nigeria, FELCON, made the appeal at a three-day capacity-building workshop in Calabar, Cross River State. They described the joint account as an avenue for state governors to control local government funds, which they said was counter-productive to the development of the councils.

They argued that financial autonomy as well as adherence to the doctrine of separation of powers at the third tier of governance would provide the needed development at the grassroots. They added that it would allow for checks and balances and proper accountability.

The councillors called on the National Assembly to formulate a law that would ensure uniform tenure for all elected council officials across the country to stop the situation where councillors are allowed a three-year term in some states while in some others, a year.

Chief Victor Edim, FELCON President, who spoke to Vanguard, described the dissolution of the local government administration by the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, as an exhibition of “political rascality,” describing same as “unconstitutional, illegal and a smacking of undemocratic principles.”