The Senate, on Tuesday, passed the Bill granting full autonomy to the Local Government Areas (LGA’s) in Nigeria.
No fewer than 92 members of the red chambers voted overwhelmingly in support of the Bill, after a clause-by-clause consideration at the Committee on the Whole.
While 92 senators voted to pass financial autonomy of LGA’s, 88 voted to pass administrative autonomy of LGAs.
The bills seek to amend the Constitution to repeal the state Joint LGA account and provide for a special account where all allocations due to the LGA, from the federation account and state government, shall be paid.
In the bill, each LGA is to create and maintain its own special account to be called the LGA Allocation Account into which all the allocations would be paid.
The legislations also mandate each state to pay to LGA’s in its area of jurisdiction such proportion of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly.
For administrative autonomy, the bill seeks to allow LGA’s to conduct their own elections.
The lawmakers also voted in favour of financial autonomy for State Houses of Assembly and judiciary.
During the voting process, the Senate witnessed over 73 votes – the threshold required for such bills to pass.
Voting on all 68 proposed amendments to the Constitution is underway.
The lawmakers are voting electronically.