The Grassroots and Government

The importance of the Local Government revolves around the need to attend to the expectations and welfare of the people at the grassroots. In addition, the Local Government plays a vital role in Federal schemes of education, housing, transport among others, nationwide. It adopts the mainline of policy to local conditions. Sadly, the Local Government, under the present dispensation in Nigeria, is not independent. Interestingly, a number of Chairmen and Councillors elected from their neighborhoods, now focus on recruiting cultists and other categories of criminals to intimidate, terrorize and attack residents of several communities, as social services continue to remain a mirage.

Indeed, these elected officials are not known by the vast majority of the populace at the grassroots, while development is only on the pages of newspapers and speakers of radios. Curiously, the character of growth to meet the needs of the poverty-stricken people come with lies, half-truths, and promises, even as insecurity is now the thriving industry to engage the disillusioned and impoverished people. Of worry is the overwhelming presence of criminals in most communities, who orchestrate well-coordinated acts of criminality, heinous and grievous crimes, and morally unacceptable behaviors including rape and homosexuality; involving the young and old, male and female alike.