…call for identification of ghost workers
The idea of bringing government closer to the people and giving individuals an established platform to contribute meaningfully in the issue of politics and governance that affect their respective local areas without necessarily seeking national interference is historical in Nigeria.
According to the 1963 Republican constitution, local government councils were established through an act called ‘Instrument to deal with specific matters’ like corporate bodies to address various issues solely to make the people at the grassroots level enjoy the dividend of good governance.
Local Government Council has been crucial to our national democracy as the third tier of government. It contributes to the economy of both the state and federal government and helps in revenue generation.
This however translates to say how individual governments are prepared and willing to tap from the abundance of natural and human resources across their local councils could make life worthwhile and all fulfilling for their people.
In modern days, there seems to be a change in the thinking of people on how best to build on already existing natural and human resources through data usage, technological advancement in analyzing problems, and proffering solutions hitherto.
Kwara State government, in its ways of administering local government affairs, is facing very serious financial implications due to mismanagement and poor handling of its staff strength.
Taking a case study of Ilorin West, analyses have shown that the state government could not properly finance the local government because of over floated workforce across the state.
Recent studies by Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) have shown that aside from that significant proportion of the local council staff has no specific job doing or to say any major role-playing in their field, the overall number of staff could not be properly financed considering the limited resources at the reach of the state government.
Governments should find a way to minimize its yearly expenditure on local government, for instance, given the over floated workforce, the idea of hiring a consultant for tax collection is not feasible, and extremely not advisable at present time.
For instance, looking at what Governor Babagana Zulum is doing recently in Borno State to reduce the state workforce through the tification of ghost workers initiative — although this may not be targeted to mitigate the implication of financial mismanagement at first – unlike the case of Kwara State, however, it’s laudable and will go a long way to better the lives of the people, even if it’s put initially to sanitize the educational system of the state.
Meanwhile, further studies have shown that the only effective mechanism to perfect local administration is through the utilization of data and technological improvements. Governments should have a database and roll call of its staff at Local Council and Local Authority Education.
How Local Government Councils can be effectively managed and administered – Expert
Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative narrated the ordeal of the staff across each local government of the state after deploying some of its volunteers to 70% of the local government consecutively for five working days for a background check, reported that most of the local council do not have adequate computers and that less than 50% of the total number that was quoted were those who go to work.
The group emphasized that instead of spending more on the local councils when it’s clear that the government could not successfully do the financing, it’s only safer than the government rejigged the local government administrative system and overhaul should take place.
It also envisaged that the government could make recycling of the council staff in carrying out awareness on the type of tax the masses should pay. They could also be used in carrying out campaigns, for instance, the Covid-19 awareness program. Instead of KWASSIP, they could also be used for equal service, even as enumerators, to minimize the cost-effectiveness of the state.
Suggestions and Recommendations for Kwara State Government on Staff Strength
There have been recommendations from various scholars in the academic and administrative field following the BBYDI report that ‘independent auditing of local government administration will help expose ‘Ghost Workers who have occupied a significant population of both the Local Government Councils and Local Education Authority staff.
Human capacity development of local council workers and distribution to appropriate department where they have capacity would no doubt serve individuals with great potential right and also the number of technical know-how in the state.
More so, recommendations have also been given on proper staff disposition and staff efficiency, in other to checkmate their potential by conducting examination for local government staff.