Ngige Highlights Higher Corruption Levels Among Council Chairmen Compared To Governors

Ngige Highlights Higher Corruption Levels Among Council Chairmen Compared To GovernorsFormer Anambra State Governor, Chris Ngige, has criticized the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy for local governments, claiming it was a mistake. He also accused local council chairmen of being more corrupt than state governors, alleging that many chairmen are driven by personal greed and are focused on acquiring luxurious estates in cities like Abuja, Lagos, and even abroad.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Ngige, who served as the Minister of Labour and Employment under former President Muhammadu Buhari, stated that the Supreme Court’s judgment ignored Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He made the comments during the 29th annual general meeting (AGM) and scientific conference of the Association of Urological Surgeons, Nigeria (NAUS) in Enugu, where he delivered a lecture on ‘Local Government Administration and Primary Healthcare’.

In his address, Ngige highlighted the widespread neglect of healthcare infrastructure, noting that over 15,000 primary healthcare centers were built as constituency projects, but many remain abandoned. He urged State Economic Planning Boards to ensure these healthcare centers are revived and properly maintained.

Ngige also underscored the vital role local government systems play in the country’s primary healthcare structure, referencing the transformation of the primary healthcare system by former Minister of Health, Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti. However, he pointed out that the lavish spending habits of local government chairmen often hinder the development of public services in their areas, with many failing to pay teachers’ salaries and allowances for several months.

The former governor also referenced a 2006 Supreme Court ruling that warned the Federal Government against interfering in how state governments allocate funds to local governments. The ruling came after a challenge from Lagos, Abia, and Delta states against President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Local Government Account Monitoring Committee Act of 2005.

Ngige stressed the importance of enforcing statutory first-line deductions from local government allocations to cover salaries, pensions, and allowances for council workers, traditional rulers, and customary courts. He argued that local government systems would function more effectively if governors adhered to the law and state Houses of Assembly fulfilled their oversight responsibilities, holding erring governors accountable.

The Minister’s comments have sparked fresh debate on the issue of local government autonomy and financial management across the country.

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