The Academic communities in the country have been called upon to come up with ideas that would promote the Third Tier Government to take its rightful position in the society.
This call was made in Port Harcourt by the Chairman of the Rivers State Local Government Service, Chief Azubuike Nmerukini (JP) when the Head of Department of Public Administration and Local Government Studies in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), Professor Fab Onah, paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman in his office.
Chief Nmerukini reiterated that the call became very imperative in view of the fact that the Third Tier Government has updated its data to be relevant in the society.
He opined that the academia was in a vintage position as a neutral body to mediate on the significance of the grass root government and said they could do this by presenting well researched and articulate recommendation to the Federal Government to clearly define the role and autonomy of the third tier government.
Chief Nmerukini asserted that the Local Government as being practiced in some States in the Country was a mere appendix or department of the second tier government.
He said, “In order to place Local Government in its proper place, the operators must be well-trained and informed which make the Commission to lay more emphasis on capacity building of staff.”
The chairman commended the University of Nigeria Nsukka for playing a leadership role in the training and retraining of Local Government staff in the country.
Chief Nmerukini promised that the Commission would continue to partner with the University in manpower development in the Unified Local Government Service in the State.
Earlier in his speech, the Head of Department of Public Administration and Local Government studies, in UNN, Professor Fab Onah Lauded the Commission for maintaining a cordial relationship with the University.
Professor Onah also noted with delight the decision of the Commission to send two Commissioners to visit the institution on a fact finding tour and to see the welfare of students sponsored by the commission and described the step as bold and worthy of emulation by other Commissioners. ####
Jeff Oguike
