The Chairman, Nigeria Conference of Speakers of State Legislators and Speaker, Oyo state House of Assembly, Honorable Adebo Ogubdoyin has called for a deliberate action to strengthen good governance at the sub-national level.
Ogubdoyin made the call on Monday,May 27, while deliverying his Keynote address at a national discourse on good governance organised by the House of Representatives, Abuja.
Delivering the keynote address, Ogubdoyin underscored the fundamental pillars of good governance while highlighting transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and responsiveness, as the cornerstone of a progressive society.
Emphasizing the critical need for these principles to permeate all levels of government, the Ibarapa born second term Speaker of Oyo state Assembly highlighted their potential to drive sustainable development and ensure effective public service delivery.
Central to Ogubdoyin’s address was a call for the reinforcement of accountability mechanisms at the local government level, aimed at promoting responsible conduct in public affairs and prudent management of public resources.
The lawmaker stressed the imperative of robust oversight to curb mismanagement and misappropriation of funds, thereby fostering trust and confidence in governance structures.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures advocated for a clear delineation of powers among the three tiers of government to forestall undue interference and overlapping roles.
They also championed the principle of True Federalism, advocating for state governments to have the authority to determine the optimal number of local governments needed for effective grassroots administration.
In Ogubdoyin’s assessment, several impediments hinder the realization of good governance at the local government level, including inadequate resources, fiscal mismanagement, lack of transparency, and low revenue generation capacity.
Addressing these challenges, Ogubdoyin asserted, is paramount to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of local governance structures.
Speaking with newsmen after the event, Ogubdoyin said: “I identified good governance which encompasses transparency, accountability, Inclusivity and responsiveness at all levels of government as the bedrock of a developed and prosperous society.
“I called for the strengthening of accountability mechanism at the local government level to ensure responsible conduct of public affairs and proper management of public resources.
“The conference of speakers of state legislatures believe there should be proper separation of powers among all the three tiers of Government to avoid undue overlap or encroachment of roles and duties, while also advocating for True Federalism by giving the State Government the authority to determine the number of local governments it requires for proper and adequate administration at the grassroot level.
“In my opinion, inadequate resources, mismanagement and misappropriation of funds, lack of accountability and transparency and low revenue generation capacity are some of the factors militating against enthronement of good governance at the local government level, and must be addressed to enhance the efficiency of that tier of government.”