Speaker Femi Gbajaniamila has said the lingering insecurity in the country is the result of malfunctioning local government System.
The Speaker spoke in Abuja at the opening of a leadership master class training for councillors in Etinam Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, organised by the Federal lawmaker representing the constituency, Onofiok Luke (PDP, Akwa Ibom).
Represented by his deputy, Idris Wase, the Speaker said:
“I want to thank you for the foresight in organising this training. Part of the insecurity that we are having today is that the local government is not functioning very well. I think we started getting it wrong from 2003, when we took the election of local government back to the states and every governor would sit in conjunction with his deputy or whatever and write his own result.
“For me, I don’t believe that’s the right procedure. And if you want true democratic setting, they can do the nitty-gritty for what’s called an Assembly, the checks and balances.
“Of course, we must bring capacity. So, I want to commend you and I believe it should be so for every leader who truly means well for the country. If we truly want to represent the people, of course, it’s very important.
“I appeal to our own colleagues to adopt this model. This will help build Nigeria. Our business here is good governance. The capacity I want to see in the people is that you should translate it to a greater Nigeria.”