LG ELECTIONS IN VIEW: THE AKHA RELIEF

BY GEORGE FRANCIS
For some time now, there has been raised issues on the third tier of government- local government in Akwa Ibom and its constitution. It is no news at all that since July 2016, precisely on the 15th day, the local government system in Akwa Ibom State has been running under caretaker or transition committees set up by the state governor, but never without the approval of the legislature in the state.
With this role, the state house of Assembly becomes a major or determinant role player in this process or procedure.
It was expected that if he, for any reason fails within the first six (6) months, Gov. Udom Emmanuel certainly will, before celebrating his first anniversary in office, do so with the third tier of government formally constituted through a democratic process.
Sadly, this expectation was never met, as the governor (not just according to him, but obviously too) spent more than the one year in context struggling to find a balanced financial ground to take off from.
Often times, the local government issue as it is yet to be constituted has been on the centre of discuss at gatherings and more frequently, on the social media. Even the governor himself has, on the two occasions of his parleying with the media in the state, has fielded this question from the same of different journalists- the writer being a witness to both occasions. His response? Still bothered on financial constraint.
Back to the legislature. This arm of government has had to bear the burden of hits resulting from this. As it is part of its duty as the lawmaking arm of government, the past two-year reign of transition committees in the third tier has had four segments of 6 months each, all of which has been possible with the approval of the legislature, whether in the case of tenure extension or fresh setup.
Why the hits? Obviously, there are a lot of persons who do not or can hardly see the legislature always being in-between the devil and the deep blue sea. Perhaps the Akwa Ibom House would have been spared some or all of the stones if they had rose against the governor with a straight up refusal to approve for the setting up of the LG transition committee, and possibly could have tried compelling the governor to conduct the LG elections.
As that was not the case, the House's choice was more of resulting from empathy, having been aware of the perturbing economic times the country was in, which the state was inevitably affected.
Fast forward to the present. To the relief of the House which deserves commendation for the diplomacy with which it has handled the issue so far, the governor has finally set the necessary apparatus in place for the conduct of the LG elections. This began with a meeting with the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) a couple of days ago, and having been set on motion, the commission recently held a meeting with registered political parties in the state who wish to participate in the said elections. At the meeting, the commission had announced November 11, 2017 as date for the elections.
It is important to note that the legislature was not all complacent with the situation at the third tier and had kept pressing on the need for the LG to be formally set, especially as the economy became less perturbing than it was at the wee days of the governor's tenure.
On the part of legislation, having gotten the governor's commitment that the expected elections will be held before the current year runs out, the 6th House of Assembly had sought for a better foundation that will enable the soon to be elected local government councils have favourable ground to operate smoothly while discharging their duties. On this, the House had proposed some fresh developmental laws to be included in the Local Government Administration Law already in existence.
This was part of the tasks treated by the legislature during its Thursday, 29th June, 2016 plenary, following a report submitted to the House by the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on the Local Government Administration Bill. This is in line with the belief of the current 6th (People's) Assembly that being the tier of government closest to the grassroots, the local government needs to be well empowered and equipped with the required apparatuses to deliver democratic dividends of government to the people at the lowest level.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke made this clear in his remark after the House treated the Committee's report. He is quoted below...
"We are emboldened today to pass this bill into law by the preparedness of the Akwa Ibom state Independent Electoral Commission to conduct elections into local government councils as indicated in the issuance of the notice for election. It is imperative therefore that we lay the legislative framework upon which these local governments can operate after the elections.
"The Local Government (Administration) Law when fully implemented will give legal impetus to Section 7 (1) of the Constitution which guarantees the existence of democratically elected local governments in the state through the enactment of a law by the House of Assembly ensuring their establishment, composition, structure, functions and finance. The law will ensure transparency and accountability in the administration of local government for the benefit of the people at the grassroots in the state. It is our collective belief that innovations in the new law will be to the best interest of our people. For instance, Akwa Ibom people will now be able to have direct access to their local government officials as the law has made it mandatory for elected officials to reside in their respective local government areas.
"Let me use this opportunity to again commend the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission, AKISIEC, for finally expressing their readiness and yielding to the call of the people and this house, to conduct elections into our local government councils come November 11 this year as stated by them. As you would recall, it was our collective resolve that this honourable house was going to hold his Excellency the Governor by his promise that elections into the third tier of government was going to hold this year. On this note, we commend the partnership effort of the state executive with this house in this regard.
"This promise, as underscored by an appropriation for AKISIEC in the 2017 budget, was the basis upon which we approved the extension of the tenure of the local government committees earlier this year. This House therefore appreciates His Excellency the Governor for rising to the occasion to ensure that elections into local councils are held this year. It is our firm belief that this law will serve as a legal compass for the conduct of the local government elections and future elections".
In conclusion, now the stage is set, both the executive and legislative arms of government have done their bits, it is now on the part of AKISIEC to kickstart the long list of activities required to set things in place for the conduct of a free, fair and credible elections that will produce competent hands to man the respective local government councils and fulfill the mandate and expectations of the people, especially as it concerns the primary essence drawing the government closer to the grassroots, being the closest tier of government to the masses at the grassroots level.