Supreme Court Decision On LG-Autonomy Not Enough, Says Felix Morka; More Reforms Needed

Supreme Court Decision On LG-Autonomy Not Enough, Says Felix Morka; More Reforms Needed

A spokesman for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka has shared his reservations over the recent financial autonomy granted to local governments (LGs) by the Supreme Court.

Morka stated that some electoral reforms have to be put in place for the verdict to be effective.

He argued that the third tier of government, cannot be said to have formidable administrations when governors still “handpick” chairmen for local governments in their states.

The APC chieftain said this on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.

He said, “In my understanding, the Supreme Court was right on the mark to give local governments access to funds meant for them. I don’t think this matter should engage the kind of controversy that I am seeing.

“I agree that the entire system for regulating how elections are conducted in the local governments has to be properly revisited by the state governors and federal authorities

“They need to come together and figure out a way to create a system and to regulate the conduct of elections that blends itself to some level of scrutiny, objectivity and independence as well because giving financial autonomy is one thing but if those who serve are handpicked by the same governors, then we are not yet there. We need to make some reforms to that electoral process.”