The Chairman of Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, on Sunday said he would spearhead a nationwide protest to resist moves by State Governors to oppose local governments’ autonomy.
He said it was unconstitutional for the governors not to allow the local government areas have autonomy in the management of their finances.
Adeyemi said this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja.
He said the statement credited to the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, that the governors would oppose the entrenchment of local governments in the constitution was anti-people.
He said the local government was the only tier of government that had direct bearing on the lives of people at the grassroots.
Adeyemi said: “we will do everything possible to resist any attempt to stop the third tier of government from being entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We the people will rise against that move. I will join other stake holders including labour, NULGE to go on a nationwide demonstration.
“I speak this not only as a Senator. I speak this as a journalist and as a former labour leader. So let nobody think about a two tier system of government.
“If you make any attempt to expunge or to reduce the power of the local government, then it is to prepare for anarchy in a few years to come,’’ he said.
Adeyemi commended Gov. Amaechi for the financial support he was giving to local government under his administration.
“you should not allow pressure from other governors who may be against autonomy of the councils to stop you’’.