Senator Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate

Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki has expressed concern over the status of local governments in the country, saying virtually all local councils lacked the required finances to carry out their statutory obligations.

The Senate President who spoke to journalists in Ilorin however said to reduce the burden of responsibilities on local councils, the Senate may transfer the responsibility of funding primary education to states.

“I am of the view that we should look at how state governments take over primary education.

“This is an arm of government that cannot meet its constitutional obligations and you now put a very important one under it.

“Ninety Five percent of local governments depend on state governments’ support to pay workers salaries,” Saraki added.

He noted that the Constitution Review Committee of the Senate may grant autonomy to the local government in the country.

The Senate president, however, believed that granting autonomy to local governments may not solve their problems.

He stressed that the main issue was that of inadequate funding which must be addressed to allow local governments function effectively.