The House of Representatives yesterday, condemned the practice by many state governments across the country in running the local government areas with the contraption of caretaker system rather than the democratically elected council as prescribed by the constitution.
The house stated that the undemocratic practice has led to the failure of the third-tier of governments in the performance of their statutory functions, thereby making the councils unaccountable to the people and even hindered the attainment of socio-economic, political development and good governance at the grassroots level.
This worrisome observation was brought in a motion yesterday by Hon. Afe Olowookere (APC member), representing Akure north/south of Ondo State.
In support of the motion, Afe, referred the house to section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution which guarantees the system of running local government by democratically elected local government councils, section 14 (1) which also assures the Federal Republic of Nigeria (local government areas inclusive) to be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice.
The lawmaker, however, further referred the house to subsection (2) of the constitution which emphasized that the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provision of this constitution.
Afe, in his motion expressed worry why many state governments for many years have violated the constitution by using periodic caretaker committee appointed and dissolved at their whims and caprices in running the third-tier government.
"This caretaker system is an alien to the 1999 constitution and has deprived the Nigerian people the opportunity to participate in the administration of their local government councils," he stated.