Opinion
Grassroots Development: The Ariolu Example
Local Government is the closest government to the people, hence it is christened grassroot government. This is because a person is first identified as a member of a community before the state and country. Therefore, when a community or individual in a community has any issue to be taken care of or matters to be attended to, the local government comes handy. It is also the local government that can easily understand the challenge of the people, the impact and how to tackle them. On the other hand, development is seen by experts as a process of creating growth, progress, positive change or the addition of physical, economic, environmental, social and demographic components. Hence, the purpose of development is a rise in the level and quality of life of the population, and the creation or expansion of local regional income and employment opportunities, without damaging the resources of the environment. Conversely, development cannot manifest without leadership which gives the development agent the ability to influence and guide followers or members of an organisation, society or team. Therefore, leadership is a developable skill that can be improved over time.
This can be said to be one of the innate traits of the current Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Barrister George Ariolu, DSSRS, who has in the past few years of his political career been under the tutelage of leadership having worked as Chief Protocol to Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, when he was a local government chairman and Special Adviser on Environmental Sanitation and Public Procurement to the former Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike during his first and second terms respectively. A combination of the experiences garnered in these political journeys in addition to his innate qualities of steadfastness, prudence, commitment, humility, and passion for development may have necessitated his deliveries as local government chairman. It can therefore be said that Ariolu’s administration is one of the best that Obio/Akpor has ever had. The array of human capital development programmes and infrastructural development stands his administration out, not only in comparism to previous administrations but also in comity of local governments in Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
George Ariolu, on assumption of office, met a near dilapidated council secretariat with epileptic power supply to the council which somehow affected the dedication of staff to duties. To reverse this trend, Barrister Ariolu gave the secretariat a facelift through comprehensive renovation and acquired a 500KVA generating set that has ensured constant power supply in the council. These have boosted morales of the council workers in addition to regular payment of salaries and yearly Christmas packages. As a cosmopolitan local government, Obio/Akpor Local Government houses several federal government agencies, hence the secretariat building could no longer accommodate both the staff, political appointees and staff of Federal Agencies. Ariolu therefore decided to build a 30 room office space with en-suite toilets which he completed within a year. To also ensure a comfortable office space for the legislative council, Ariolu completed the legislative building started by the immediate past administration of the council. Today, Obio/Akpor has one of the best legislative buildings in Rivers State and Nigeria by extension. For the first time all councillors have their private offices in the building.
Obio/Akpor Council Secretariat premises before Ariolu assumed office had regular flooding whenever it rained but the chairman through his proactive leadership constructed internal drainage system and linked it to a nearby creek. As a result, flooding has ended in the council. In an unprecedented gesture, never in the history of the council, Ariolu has donated twelve 500KVA transformers to 12 communities in the local government to boost their power supply and improve businesses in the area, in addition to 40KVA generating sets donated to each of the four first class Traditional Rulers in the local government area. In a giant leap towards educational development, he has awarded postgraduate grants worth N700,000 and N500,000 each to 208 Ph.D and Masters students respectively. This is to encourage education advancement in the area. Eight persons drawn from different communities enrolled by the chairman in the all expensive Charkin Maritime as Cadets, have already qualified as Merchant Navy, ready to exploit the world of the blue economy which will invariably have positive spiral effect in the local government area.
As part of measures to give more access to education in the local government, Barrister Ariolu has completed two major school buildings in two communities: Woji and Rumuomoi that never had secondary school before now. The Woji secondary school of two wings storey building is made up of 19 classrooms with 16 toilets for both male and female in addition to offices for teachers and the head teachers. A six classroom block has also been completed in Rumuomoi. The chairman has also fenced Community Secondary School, Ogbogoro, as a measure to steer off intruders and pedophiles in the school. He also fenced the 50 plots of land acquired under the leadership of Hon. Timothy Nsirim in Rumuekini, which are being used for Agricultural purposes. Furthermore, over 200 youths have been trained in different skills ranging from scaffolding, crane operation, excavator and forklift operation, which has earned a good number of them employment. Infact, plans have been concluded to train more youths on trucking which is one of the attractive jobs in Nigeria and abroad.
A major market that has given the people of Oginigba alternative after the demolition of the Slaughter market is at the completion stage. The first phase which is made up of 50 lock-up shops and 100 open stalls will give great succour to women of the the community. In addition, the council under the leadership of George Ariolu has built about 40 open stalls in Rumuepirikom market. These include a section of the market that was gutted by fire. Construction of roads is not left out in the administration of Ariolu as two major roads have been completed in Oginigba and Rumuolumeni, with street lights. The Rumuorlumeni road is almost one kilometer, known as school road linking NDDC road in Nkpo, while that of Oginigba is an interlocked road of over 100 metres.
As a gesture towards making impact in his alma mater, the chairman has extended his midas touch of development to the postgraduate hostel of Rivers State University, where he renovated the entire hostel and installed a borehole for the students.
In a sharp contrast to what people termed as touting in Obio/Akpor, that was prevalent over the years before he assumed office, Ariolu has reversed the trend by removing all impersonations, touting and illegal tax collection as most businesses and road users have now heaved a sigh of relief in their daily routines. Having served as special adviser on Sanitation, to former Governor Wike, Ariolu had set-up Obio/Akpor environmental sanitation team that tackles all environmental sanitation issues. In just two years and few months in office, Barrister Ariolu has also changed the narrative of prudent management of fund in local government administration and earned awards and accolades by NGOs and stakeholders of the local government.
By: Justice Ihunwo
Dr. Ihunwo is a journalist, a development communication expert and a Public Policy Analyst.
Opinion
The Rantings Of Rivers ALGON
For the first time in the last eight years , one can observe a moribund and toothless, Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter trying to lull the people of Rivers State in believing that it exists, that it is versed and abreast with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), knowledgeable about subsisting judicial pronouncements on the Local government administration matters by courts of competent jurisdiction, and it has workers and. the people’s welfare at heart.
These wrong impressions can be deduced from the text of the Press Conference delivered by the Association last week.
Despite the window dressing and cosmetic posture that the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Rivers Sttate chapter wants to impress on the people and residents of Rivers State, it is crystal clear that workers at the Third Tier of Government have not fared well in the last eight years of the repressive and workers unfriendly immediate past administration in the State.
While workers at the State were fortunate to have a controversial minimum wage paid to them, local Government workers did not benefit from the N30,000 Minimum Wage which became a legal instrument about six years until March 2024, following a directive by the Executive Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to Local Government chairmen in the State to immediately implement the minimum wage, wage award and promote workers.
Where was.the Legal Adviser of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, whose statutory responsibility it was to advise the former Rivers State. Governor that it is an affront on the sensibilities of workers and fragrant.breach of extant law to not pay minimum wage to workers at.the 23 Local Government councils.
Civil servants at the State and Local Government councils were not promoted and did not benefit from the annual incremental credit for about ten years. The incremental credit is a paltry and very insignificant amount compared to the inputs of workers to drive implementation of government policies and programmes and what elective office holders take home within the comparable period.
I had expected a “concerned and workers-friendly ‘ Association of Local Government in the State to midwife the promotion of workers, implementation of Minimum wage and fulfill their statutory obligations to the workers and the people at the local government areas whose resources they hold in trust and on whose behest they are in power.
It therefore beats my imagination that Local Government Chairmen of ALGON, who are products of the ballot and not appointees of the former governor lost their “Executive” status and played the second fiddle role. Even when there was unconfirmed tampering of local government funds, they could not protest or raise an eye brow.
How the people who were cowardly and timid before the former administration in the State suddenly cultivated and imbibed the effrontry and temerity to hold a Press Conference attempting to disparage the performing and conscientious Sir Siminalayi Fubara-led administration leaves much to be desired and a bad taste in the mouth of all patriotic and truthful Rivers people.
I expected the self serving chairmen under the aegis of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria to brace up to the challenges of seeming derecognition and denial of their right of expression as elected chairmen by the former administration in the State.
While the ALGON has the legitimacy to contest violation of, or infringement on their interests, such protest should not be seen as selective. Between 1999 and 2003, the Association of Local Government of.Nigeria in Rivers State was vociferous and so alive to its onus that they rejected allocations that did not reflect the true figures of what the local government councils deserved from the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC). That was when ALGON was keen and committed to the essence of its formation. That was a real workers-friendly ALGON.
However, with the advent of crude and uncivilised godfatherism that circumvented real democratic processes for manipulative and coercive selection that ultimately produced unpopular candidates of the godfather, chairmen were reduced to puppets, playing subservient roles for their benefactors instead of protecting the interest and welfare of workers and the people of their local government areas, who they ought to represent.
Having therefore failed to speak up for workers and defend the welfare of the people of their local government areas, at a time they were oppressed, the association in my candid opinion does not have the moral justification to cry fowl against the present administration in Rivers State whose policies and programmes so far, reveal that the governor understands that the legitimacy of his administration is derived from the people, so he is accountable to them by putting in place infrastructure that will give fresh breath to a people who are recuperating from the suffocation of repressive and coercive governance.
Sir Siminalayi Fubara is today a messiah to workers in Rivers State. Local government. workers are .being paid minimum wage, promoted and duly placed at their appropriate levels after 10 years of no promotion.
Civil servants in the State are sure of receiving their pensions immediately after retirement from service which was a marked. departure from previous administration.
Rather than vilifying or demonising the present administration in the State, the Association of Local Government of.Nigeria, Rivers State should thank the Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for doing in less than one year what their grand master could not do for them and workers in eight years.
Remember, everyone will stand in the court of history and posterity to account for their actions and inactions in office.
Igbiki Benibo
Opinion
Kidnapping: Need For Govt To Address The Monster
Kidnapping, a heinous crime, cannot be condoned in any circumstances. The situation in Nigeria, characterised by various security challenges, including the presence of militant groups and criminal organisations, requires a multifaceted approach to address its root causes.
A report by the Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, a security risk management and intelligence company based in Abuja, stated that at least 2,583 people were killed and 2,164 kidnapped in the first quarter of this year.
The record carries the number of killings and abductions across the country from January to March, indicating that 80 percent of the killings and 94 percent of the abductions occurred in the Northern part of Nigeria.
This report, however, varied with the position by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, who said that the casualty figures were going down, the consulting firm’s report showed that an average of 28 persons were killed and 24 kidnapped.
The Nigerian government, through the Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, during the maiden edition of the annual lecture series organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, said the security situation was under control.
The casualty figures in zones, according to the data from the Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, revealed that out of the people killed during the period, 793 were from the North-West, 681 from the North-East and 596 from the North-Central. The casualties were recorded from bandits’ attacks, farmers/herders’ conflicts and communal clashes.
The South-West recorded 194 killings, the South-South, 161 people; and South-East, 158. The five states with the highest number of killings were Borno, 517; Benue, 313; Katsina, 252; Zamfara, 212 and Kaduna, 206. The data showed that out of the 2,164 persons abducted within the period, 1,297 were kidnapped in the North-West, 421 in the North-East, 330 in the North-Central, 30 in the South-West, 66 in the South-South and 20 in the South-East.
Kaduna State recorded the highest number of abductees with 546; Zamfara, 447; Borno, 340; Katsina, 252 and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 102. Experts hope that the present government under President Bola Tinubu will do the needful.
Firstly, addressing the socioeconomic factors that contribute to kidnapping is crucial. High unemployment rates, poverty, and lack of economic opportunities push individuals towards criminal activities. Investing in education, job creation programmes, and infrastructure development can help alleviate these issues and provide alternatives to crime.
Secondly, strengthening law enforcement and judicial systems is essential. Improving police training, equipping them with necessary resources, and enhancing collaboration between security agencies can help in apprehending criminals and ensuring justice for victims. Additionally, enhancing the efficiency of the judicial process and holding perpetrators accountable through swift and fair trials can deter future criminal activities.
Furthermore, enhancing intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities can help in preempting kidnapping attempts and dismantling criminal networks. Cooperation between government agencies, intelligence services, and international partners can facilitate information sharing and coordination in combating organised crime.
Moreover, addressing corruption within the government and security forces is imperative. Corruption undermines efforts to combat crime by facilitating criminal activities and eroding public trust in institutions. Implementing anti-corruption measures, promoting transparency, and holding corrupt officials accountable can help in restoring trust and integrity within the system.
Community engagement and empowerment play a vital role in preventing kidnapping and other crimes. Building strong community relationships, fostering trust between residents and law enforcement agencies, and promoting community-based initiatives can help in identifying and addressing security threats at the grassroots level.
Finally, kidnapping in Nigeria is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach. Addressing socioeconomic factors, strengthening law enforcement and judicial systems, enhancing intelligence capabilities, combating corruption, engaging communities, and promoting international cooperation are all crucial components in combating kidnapping and improving security in the country. However, it is important to remember that any strategy must prioritise human rights, the rule of law, and the protection of innocent lives.
Badamasi Junaidu
Junaidu writes from Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi.
Opinion
Local Government As Agent Of Nation Building
Development is regarded as sequential changes or growths that occur in a society or country over time. It remains a product of good governance, which mostly lies in the hands of those at the helm of affairs at a particular time and process that led to the emergence of such leaders.
The local government is universally found in contemporary societies, both in the developed and developing countries. It is a vital political institution, such that modern politics and administration revolves around it. Today, most countries across the globe have adopted democratic system of government, being the government of the people, by the people and for the people. In these countries, governance is centered on three tiers with constitutional backing to aid rapid development. A country like Nigeria has three tiers of government, Federal, State and Local Governments. Each tier has constitutional roles, aimed at complementing each other. The mother of them, that is, the Federal Government, plays significant roles in nation building, and this is one of the reasons why citizens always look unto the presidency and participate actively during presidential elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It is an established fact that citizens also perform their civic responsibilities as expected during the governorship elections, while there is a lot of apathy during the chairmanship and councillorship elections, forgetting that without a solid foundation, the longevity of structure or building is in doubt.
Citizens’ nonchalant attitude to the process that produces public administrators at the grassroots is quite alarming, and this usually results into having the wrong peg in the right hole.
Findings revealed that voter apathy associated with local government council elections was due to non-performance of some previous elected administrators, lack of security of lives or property and lack of trust in States Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs). Others include introduction of caretaker committees to man the affairs of the councils, do-or-die approach of political soldiers to the council’s polls, interest of the incumbent governors, choice of political godfathers, influence of respected monarchs and many more. The local government is a tier of government that provides essential services to the public, such as health and safety, transportation, sanitation, environmental, and utilities.
Also, it is the tier of government that ensures grading of rural roads, management of basic schools, local markets, among others. Public administrators play a crucial role in the delivery of these services and the management of local government organisations. Some time ago, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, at the swearing-in ceremony of chairmen and vice chairmen of Nsit Ibom and Urue–Offong / Oruka Local Governments, compelled chairmen of the local government councils in the state to reside within their areas of jurisdiction for effective delivery on their mandate and development of rural areas.
Also, the ongoing campaign or demand for financial autonomy for local government by relevant stakeholders in the country further attests to how important this tier of government is in building a prosperous and self-sustained nation.
This development led to the conduct of local government council election in the 33 local government council areas of the state in 2021 by the current leadership of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), headed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju. About 30 percent of registered voters took part in the election, a result that further attest to the long-time nonchalant attitude of citizens and residents to local government council elections. According to records, the feat attained by the commission in terms of voter turnout was the highest in recent times.
No doubt, democracy provides opportunity for people to choose their leaders and enables citizens to make their opinions known to those in power, enjoy good governance and interface with the authorities, especially those at the grassroots.
Adegoke writes in from Ibadan, Oyo State.
By: Adedamola Adegoke
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