Nigeria has 774 local government areas (LGAs), each administered by a local government council consisting of a chairman, who is the chief executive, and other elected members, who are referred to as councillors. Each LGA is further subdivided into a minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty wards. A ward is administered to by a councillor, who reports directly to the LGA chairman. The councillors fall under the legislative arm of the local government, the third tier of government in Nigeria, below the state governments and the federal government.
The functions of local governments are detailed in the Nigerian constitution and include the following:
Economic recommendations to the State, collection of taxes and fees. Establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for the destitute or infirm. Licensing of bicycles, trucks (other than mechanically propelled trucks), canoes, wheel barrows and carts. Establishment, maintenance and regulation of markets, motor parks and public conveniences. Construction and maintenance of roads, streets, drainages and other public highways, parks, and open spaces.
Naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses within their local government areas. Provision and maintenance of public transportation and refuse disposal systems. Registration of births, deaths and marriages in their locality. Assessment of privately owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a State.
Control and regulation of outdoor advertising, movement and keeping of pets of all descriptions, shops and kiosks, restaurants and other places for sale of food to the public, and laundries. These functions are usually coordinated, executed and implemented at the council secretariat.
The council secretariat of Ohafia Local Government Area located at Ebem Ohafia, was the cynosure of all eyes in its hey days. It determined the fate of many sons and daughters of the local government area, while many depended on the people who worked there for their daily bread. But now, the council secretariat is a shadow of itself-dilapidated, abandoned, denied proper and modern facilities and rotting away in majesty, The Whisperer can authoritatively report.
Sadly, the secretariat, housing a good number of offices has since been overtaken by rodents, trees, medium and short grasses.
This development has led to the abandonment of offices by council workers who are said to be operating from different villages even as they are enough structures to accommodate them.
The Whisperer observed that most of the offices have been taken over by weeds and even hoodlums— especially the council administrative block, traditional rulers’ council and political block.
For a first-time visitor to the area, it would be difficult to tag the area a council secretariat as it is obscured by a series of stalls and kiosks built close to the drainage, by the fence.
The first impression that comes to mind on getting to the place is that of a fast-expanding local farm meant to serve the immediate needs of those living close by.
The Whisperer investigations showed that since 2010, the secretariat has been abandoned with little or no attention from successive chairmen — both elected and those appointed by the state government.
A resident of Ebem Ohafia, Mr. Ukpai Kalu in a chat with The Whisperer said: This place has been abandoned since Orji Uzor Kalu left as the governor of Abia state. We last experienced development during the tenure of Barr. Emeka Kalu. Others came and did nothing. We thank God for Governor Alex Otti and the appointment of Chief David OgbaOnuoha (Bourdex). We have faith in the leadership capacity of Bourdex and we are hopeful he is going to renovate here abd restore its glory.”
A community leader from Ohafia, Mrs Ezinne Uduma frowned at the abandonment of the secretariat, saying: “It is embarrassing seeing Ohafia local government secretariat looking the way it is today. I am pleading with the incoming leadership of Ohafia local government area to immediately demolish those stalls at the fence complex, while embarking on total rehabilitation.”
The Whisperer could not reach the Transition Committee Chairman of Ohafia Local Government Area, Chief Bourdex Ogba Onuoha for comments.
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