Dear Chairman
Once more, congratulations on your election and assumption of office as the Executive Chairman of Billiri Local Government Council (LGC). Though the planned courtesy visit to your office by the leadership of the Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA) and Tangale elders was overtaken by events, it is our earnest prayer that God will grant you the grace and the wisdom you need to succeed in your tenure.
In line with that, as fellow Tangale kinsmen, we deem it necessary to call on you to be fair in your leadership and set an example for what is just, knowing that the LGA comprises people from different indigenous tribes. This is in addition to people who come from far and near to settle here and tap from the economic blessings God has bestowed on us. We also call on you to be courageous in the face of adversity and tackle every challenge head-on.
Secondly, like majority of Nigerians, we were excited by the Supreme Court judgement on the financial autonomy for the LGAs delivered on Thursday, July 11, 2024. From the wider interpretations of the judgement, it is clear that;
- Federal Government is barred from further payment of LG allocations through the State Governments joint accounts since the practice has been abused by the Governors.
- Federal Government should henceforth withhold allocations to Local Governments governed by unelected officials appointed by Governors.
- It is illegal for State Governors to dissolve democratically elected Members of Local Government Councils.
Even though the implementation is being delayed by the federal government for administrative and operational reasons, by implication of the judgement, the 774 local governments in Nigeria (including Billiri) will receive their funds directly from the federation account and not through the State joint accounts.
The judgement has ushered us into an era of experiencing the true objective of Nigeria’s Constitution on the legal rights of LGs to exist and to function. It also gives the LGs the power to invest and prioritize development at the local level.
Based on that, please be warned against surrendering the allocations of Billiri LGA to Gombe state government under whatever guise. We advise that you financially detach Billiri LGA from any form of master-slave relationship with Governor Inuwa Yahaya starting right now. The people of Billiri LGA elected you to govern them, and based on the recent judgement, Gov. Yahaya has no power to remove you.
It is on record that for more than five years Governor Yahaya placed our LGA under siege by abusing the intentions of the state joint account. He deliberately refused to site any project in Billiri LGA, despite being in control of our funds through the joint account. The Supreme Court ruling has brought an end his wicked intensions towards us; he is no longer in control of allocations to our LGA.
As indigenes of Billiri LGA we call on you to be proactive in the use of our LG funds by embarking on projects that have direct bearing on the people of the LG in areas like Agriculture, Education, Health and Tourism, among others. We encourage you to work with the Councilors, community leaders, and grass root organisations from the ward level to identify challenges that require immediate attention and commence work.
We also advise the drawing-up of a long-term Development Plan (10-Year, 20-Year, or 50-Year) for the LG. You can achieve this by setting up a committee to develop the vision and implementation strategy. We are blessed with indigenes that have participated in drawing up of such plans for Nigeria and some states.
Take note, what is sent to LGs from the federation account is not hidden, it is published in the national dailies. So, we expect service delivery without excuses.
Remember the words of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), at the 17th Anniversary Lecture of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) in Abuja, where he vowed to prosecute LG Chairmen and Councillors who tamper with Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds sent to their LGs. “The choice is theirs [LG chairmen]; If they want to tamper with these funds and end up in jail, it is their choice. Or if they want to write their names in letters of gold, activities like construction or upgrading of roads must return to the local government.”
Aside from the Attorney-General, many groups in Billiri LGA are also ready to report you to anti-corruption agencies should you choose to mismanage or handover Billiri LGA funds to Gov. Yahaya.
We need not remind you that LGA Chairmen in Nigeria have no immunity, which exposes you to prison terms. Recall that in the past, a one-time sitting Chairman of Billiri LGA was picked and whisked away by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The then governor could not stop that from happening.
Lastly, we call on you to shun powermongers and selfish individuals within and outside the LGA, those who are out to enrich themselves. We assure you that the Tangale people are willing to stand with you if you choose to work for the development of the area. You have the opportunity to demonstrate that you love your people and you are willing to work for them.
Thank you and remain blessed.
Sincerely,
SIGNED
Mr. Reuben A. Bauna
General Secretary, Tangale Community Development Association
Maj. B. S. Uba (Rtd)
General Secretary, Kwagam Tangle Socio-Cultural Association
Mr. Lamela Umaru Lakorok
General Secretary, Tangale Community Overseas
September 24, 2024.
