The National Assembly is working towards proscribing the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), Rep. Simon Arabo announced on Wednesday in Jos.
“After a thorough study, we have found that the SIECs are manipulated by the state governments; they do not allow a level playing ground for all parties,'' Arabo, who represents Kauru Federal Constituency, Southern Kaduna said.
The PDP lawmaker alleged that the state governments had a stranglehold on the SIECs and had always used the grip to decide who should emerge as elected local government officials without respect for basic democratic norms.
“Actually, we do not see why INEC should not conduct all elections since it has offices everywhere. What we want to do is to democratise all levels of governance so that the common Nigerians will decide who should lead them at any level.''
Arabo suggested a strong local council system that would encourage checks and balances between the local government chairman and the councillors.
He noted that such a measure would encourage the local leaders to fulfil their mandates and promises to the electorate.
The lawmaker said the National Assembly was also working toward empowering the local government administrations with full political and financial autonomy to operate more independently of the state governments.
“Currently, local governments are just appendixes to the state governments; they are recognised by the constitution but placed under the purview of the states. This is not right.
“The constitution also recognises the need for joint accounts between the states and the local governments, but there is no mechanism to serve as a check on the operation of such accounts.
“The result is that most states simply corner local government finances and give them peanuts in-between. With an independent structure, the councillors will form a strong legislature that will check any excesses of the executive.''
On the spate of midnight attacks by unknown gunmen on some communities in his constituency, Arabo said: “The attacks are sad and unfortunate. We must accept each other as one and live together in peace and harmony for the purpose of development; violence only kills and ruptures relationships.”