Chairman of Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Bakassi Local Council, HRM Etinyin Edet, has called on the government at the federal and state levels to prioritise local council autonomy.
The monarch, who described the local council system as a training ground for future politicians, noted that prioritising and allowing it to carry out its constitutional functions will help reduce the level of insecurity in the country.
Etinyin Edet, who spoke in an exclusive interview with The Guardian, in Calabar, highlighted a number of traditional and political issues, especially as it concerns local government autonomy and insecurity.
He said although the 1999 Constitution strictly provides for the local council system, especially strengthening of government and administration at the grassroots, it is certain that the political class is yet to reach a consensus on the status of local councils across the country.
He observed that the local council is the closest to rural people, saying that the only way to ensure that people enjoy the benefits of democracy is to grant autonomy to the local council.
