The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, has called on national stakeholders on special duties and intergovernmental affairs to properly harness grassroots potential for service delivery and for sustainable national development.
The minister stated this while declaring open the national stakeholders’ conference on special duties and intergovernmental affairs in Abuja, Tuesday.
The minister said the ministry is boldly making its marks based on its assigned mandate, adding that key among which are; making key projects and initiatives of the presidency, developing and implementing policies and programmes towards the improvement of inter-governmental relations at the state and local government levels.
Other mandates, according to the Minister, included monitoring and unification of all key projects and initiatives as designated by Mr. President, actively collaborating with the private sector to create employment for a large number members of Nigerian youths as well as to implement a strategy towards the realisation of the president’s promise to move 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next ten (10) years.
The minister further stated that federalism which Nigeria has concertedly and freely chosen as our system of government, due to our diversity, could only thrive where the principle of intergovernmental relations is properly practiced.
“The principle is well developed in the United States of America from where we copied the type of federalism which we are practicing in Nigeria.”
According to the minister, countries practicing federalism have adapted its principles to suit their peculiarity, and are continuously working towards improving the system.
He explained that the reasons the debate on the devolution of powers has been kept on the front burner in Nigeria for a long time now. He said federalism requires the growth of each tier of government on the one hand and an improvement of intergovernmental relationships among the tiers on the other hands.
Akume noted that our experience under the Nigerian federalism has shown that the local government, the third tier is the weakest, though it is nearest to the people.
“It is the realization of this fact that led to the local government Reform of 1976 and another effort in 1987. Since then, local government administration has witnessed a lot of development.”
He commended the National Assembly for its current effects in strengthening the local government administration through the passing of relevant laws, he said though, the fifth Constitution Alteration Bill of 2023, recently accented to by Mr. President, did not include anything related to intergovernmental relations and local government administration and development.”
