The chairman of House Committee on Ecological Funds, Rt. Hon Aminu Sani Jaji has appealed to the Nigerian youth not to engage in any form of protest against the federal government.
Speaking at a public lecture and interactive session organised by the Zamfara State students Association, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Chapter, with the theme Local Government Autonomy; A Key To Unlocking Economic Growth and Curtailing Insecurity held at the university on Saturday.
Hon. Jaji a member representing Kauran Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, said he acknowledged the hardship being experienced in the country, while advising that leaders are working round the clock to address most of the challenges through various interventions.
“Please don’t allow anyone to use you in the name of the protest. I acknowledge the hardship being experienced in the country, but I assure you that our President and leaders are working round the clock to address it through various interventions. Please shun any call for protest.
On the issue of Local Government autonomy, Hon. Jaji said he strongly supports the autonomy of the local government as the closest tier of government to the people and the backbone of our democracy.
He said that as a former Chairman of Birnin Magaji Local Government, he believed that local governments hold the key to unlocking grassroots development, economic growth, and improved service delivery, infrastructure as well as enhance community participation and engagement, foster accountability and transparency and address local security and conflict resolution.
“In a nutshell, Local Government autonomy refers to the freedom of local governments to manage their affairs, make decisions, and allocate resources without undue interference from higher tiers of government.
He outline the significance of local government autonomy and its transformative potential for the communities, states, and the nation to include: Improved service delivery, Increased local revenue:, allows local governments to explore local revenue sources, economic growth and development, enhanced community participation, fosters community involvement in decision-making, better security and conflict resolution, accountability and transparency;
Others are reduced poverty and inequality, improved infrastructure and amenities, decentralization of power, promotes decentralization, reducing the burden on federal and state governments,’ innovative solutions, disaster response and management, among others.
He charged the students to be good ambassadors of their family, university community, Zamfara state, and the country in general. He also tasked them to actively participate in governance, which is a symbol of the future tomorrow, bringing about mentorship and Inclusivity. “I urged you to be responsible and sound in your reasoning, careful in dealing with issues affecting our well-being he said”.