Opinion
Should LGAs Be Scrapped?
The Committee on Political Restructuring in the
ongoing National Conference, recently recommended the scrapping of the third tier of government.
Expectedly, mixed reactions have trailed the advice. Some Port Harcourt residents spoke with our Chief Correspondent, Calista Ezeaku on the controversial issue. Our photographer, Ibioye Diama captured their images.
Mr Ariobiobara Bestman – Estate Surveyor/ASSBIFI Unit President
Local government is very important because it is the third tier of government, the grassroot government. So I think the idea of scrapping local governments is not a welcome development. If local governments are scrapped, it is going to bring deficiency to grassroot development because local government staff are people within the local government who ordinarily wouldn’t have gotten to the state level employment competitive setting. Local government has helped in reducing rural/urban drift. In the past, a lot of people go to the urban centres for white collar jobs but local governments have made themselves very fundamental in the way and manner that they have brought a reduction in such drift.
Agreed, most of the local government chairmen share their monthly allocations. We have so many local governments that are deficient in development, the pace of development is very slow.
However, scrapping local governments wouldn’t be the solution. When you have a defective setting, scrapping is not a solution. Rearrangement of the administrative pattern is the best solution. When you scrap, you have not really solved the problem. You will have a lot of problems to contend with – employment problems, rural development problems.
So, I’m of the opinion that we should not scrap the local governments, rather there should be checks and balances in the administration of the local governments. For instance, let certain percentage of local government funds be used by the chairmen in setting up rural industries. That will create more employment and boost the local government setting.
If local governments are scrapped, we will miss a lot – the hustling and bustling of local government administration, those that inhabit in the local government areas will desert the local governments and life in the local governments will be worst than what it is today.
Comrade Ibali Ferdinand – NULGE chairman, Ahoada East LGA.
What those people who are agitating for the scrapping of local government failed to understand is that we have three tiers of government in Nigeria, viz; federal, state and local governments. And the local government is the grassroot government. If you have any problem in the community, it is the local government that wades into that matter to settle it. If there is crisis in the community, the state government will find it difficult to come and settle that matter.It is the local government that does that most of the time.
So the agitation for the scrapping of local governments or putting them under the state government is uncalled for. And what will happen to the workers of the local government areas if scrapped? Most of the people in the communities are feeding from these people. For instance, the councillors give helping hand to these people. You cannot even see the state assembly men in the communities. It is the local government chairmen that know the problems of the people in the rural areas. There is an adage that when you see a tree from a distance you will not know that tree, but when you go nearer, you can tell what type of tree it is.
That is exactly what is happening in local governments. And you don’t expect the local government chairmen to be in the offices, every time. And I think it is a bad insinuation that local governments are where monies are shared.
It is not a true fact. When money from the federal comes, they sit in F and GPC, where distribution is made. Salaries, contracts and other allowances, are paid. The chairman does not even have the right to stay in his office and determine the distribution of funds of the local government.
As I earlier said, LGAs are set up to bring about development in the local areas, some LGAs that have money are carrying out some projects like roads, mono pumps, bore-holes and others. Now if you go ahead and scrap LGAs, these things will be stopped, the workers of the LGAs will lose their jobs, their dependants will suffer. Unemployment is a major problem in Nigeria, and the people that have jobs you want to lay them off, what do you think will happen in the country? Scrapping of local governments will even bring more problems to Nigeria. It will not help the country.
Instead of putting the local government under the state government or scrapping it, they should give LGAs autonomy and set up an institution that should monitor them.
Kubi Enyie _ Public Servant.
It will not be in the best interest of the country to scrap the local government. It might lead to increase in crime rate and youth restiveness. You know many youth are close to the local government. Most of them benefit from the local government, from the chairmen, the councillors and the people that work there.
If you scrap LGAs, you will be depriving these people a source of income. So it is not possible.
It is not fair to scrap LGAs. Whoever came up with the idea of scrapping local governments must have an evil mind. There is no local government in the state that does not have ongoing development projects.
The chairmen of all the 23 local government areas in Rivers State are performing very well. If you move round you can see ongoing projects. The local government should be made autonomous.
It shouldn’t be attached to the state government. If it is federal government that is funding the LGAs, then, the federal government should have a body that will regulate the local government activities, not the state. For instance, if I’m the one paying you, and someone else is supervising you, it is not a good understanding. I know how much I gave to you and I’m supposed to be the one to supervise you to know what and what you used the money for.
So what I am saying is that the local government should remain.They should not scrap local government. And the federal government that finances the local government should set up a regulating body to monitor the activities of the LGAs not the state and they should scrap the joint account arrangement. There are some local government areas in this country that only pay workers salary, they don’t even know how much they receive from the federal government in a particular month. The state government only gives them salaries for the workers and other activities in the council alone. There cannot be development of the LGAs under such arrangement. But here in Rivers State, the state government is doing what it is supposed to do. It does not tamper with local government funds.
Egondu Nwoko – Civil Servant.
Local governments cannot be scrapped now. What will happen to the staff of the councils of the local governments if scrapped? Where will they work? Local governments should remain a distinct body as it is now. It should not be merged with the state, put under the control of the state or whatever. It is as important as any other tier of government.
Kingsley Micheal – Student
I don’t really know much about local government system in Nigeria. All I know is that it is the third tier of the government and it caters for grassroot development. But I don’t think they’ve been doing that. I have not seen any road or any tangible project said to be carried out in my own local government area and others.
The workers and even the Chairman hardly go to work. Many of them do not even reside in the local government. As far as I am concerned, the political system we have in Nigeria whereby political godfathers install local government chairmen and expect them to share the monthly allocation with them, makes the local governments irrelevant because after sharing the money, there is nothing left for the development of the area. Putting the local government under the state government will actually reduce cost of governance. But you see, there is corruption everywhere in Nigeria so the alleged corrupt practices, lack of commitment in the local government might not change much under the control of the state government. What we need is a total overhauling of the entire system.
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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