Abuja, Nigeria -
His Imperial Majesty Amb. Sir Dr Mishak Nnanta, President-General, Igbo World Union (IWU), Gburugburu Ndigbo Dum, has emphasized the importance of local government autonomy in achieving rural development, describing it as the "only route" to unlocking the potential of rural areas.
In a statement made available to Newsmen, Sir Nnanta lamented the current state of rural areas in Nigeria, citing lack of infrastructure, poor healthcare, and limited economic opportunities.
He attributed these challenges to the absence of true autonomy at the local government level.
"The current system, where local governments are tied to the apron strings of state governments, has hindered the development of rural areas," His Imperial Majesty said. "Until we grant local governments autonomy, we cannot expect meaningful development in our rural communities."
Amb. Mishak Nnanta argued that local government autonomy would enable councils to respond to the unique needs of their communities, rather than relying on state or federal governments.
"When local governments are autonomous, they can prioritize projects that benefit their people, such as building roads, healthcare facilities, and schools," he explained.
The IWU President also highlighted the economic benefits of local government autonomy, saying it would unleash entrepreneurial spirit and create jobs in rural areas. "Autonomous local governments can attract investments, promote agriculture, and support small businesses, thereby reducing poverty and migration to urban centers," He said.
Gburugburu Ndigbo Dum called on the Federal Government to take concrete steps towards amending the constitution to remove the state-local government joint account system.
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