CSO Urges INEC, National Assembly to Prioritize Local Govt Autonomy, Party Supremacy

The Cultural and Societal Value Development Initiative (CSVDI) has called for urgent reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, focusing on local government autonomy and the supremacy of political parties.

This is contained in an open letter addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Assembly.

Speaking to journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday, Prof. Samuel Ibiyemi, Chairman, and Rev. Gabriel Olaoye, Secretary of CSVDI, stressed that these changes would foster a more accountable and effective local government system capable of driving socio-economic development across the country.

The group commended the federal government for securing a Supreme Court ruling that grants autonomy to local government councils, while also supporting the National Assembly’s plans to review the ruling comprehensively.

They emphasized that incorporating their recommendations would ensure lasting reforms.

Among the key requests outlined in the letter are the following:

INEC to Conduct All Elections: CSVDI urged that future local government elections be conducted solely by INEC to ensure transparency and fairness in the electoral process.

Judicial Swearing-In: The organization called for elected local government chairmen and councilors to be sworn in by the judiciary rather than state governors or their representatives, in order to uphold the independence of local councils.

Independence from State Government: CSVDI stressed the need for local councils to operate without interference from state governments, allowing them to function autonomously.

Party Supremacy: The initiative emphasized the importance of party supremacy in maintaining checks and balances across all tiers of government. “Effective governance requires that party leadership holds power independently from executive leadership,” said Prof. Ibiyemi.

They also proposed reforms to the electoral process, including a recommendation that election ballots bear party symbols instead of candidate photographs, and that polling agents represent political parties rather than individual candidates.

Additionally, CSVDI advocated for a more defined role for traditional rulers and community development associations in local governance, suggesting that they be included in council membership to enhance grassroots governance.

The letter concluded with a call for the National Assembly to prioritize these critical issues in its constitutional and electoral review processes, aiming to entrench party supremacy and local government autonomy for effective governance.

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