A Member of the House of Representatives, representing Makurdi/Guma constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Jime has assured Nigerians that the Senate and the Green Chamber would harmonise on the need to grant autonomy to local governments in Nigeria.
Hon. Jime while addressing newsmen in Makurdi, Benue State capital, after awarding 934 scholarships to students in his constituency at the weekend, said though the Senate voted earlier against granting the local tier of government autonomy, the two chambers of the National Assembly will certainly fall on the same page on resumption in September.
Mr. Jime, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Federal Capital Territory, FCT, further stated that voting for autonomy for Local Governments by the House was a commendable thing to do, and called for the support of the state Houses of Assembly for the idea to sale through.
The former speaker of Benue State House of Assembly also appealed to the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and other bodies opposed to the idea of financial and administrative freedom for the third tier of government to reconsider their position.
He said a vote for autonomy for the tier would bring about a bottom-to-top approach to development in Nigeria; a development he said would ensure a rapid and healthier growth of democracy in the country.
