The burning issue today in Imo state is the face off between Civil Servants, otherwise called the labour and the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha over the implementation of the fourth tier system of government, being initiated by the incumbent administration in the state.
To the workers in the state, it is a novel type of government, which they are yet to get in terms with, while for government, it is an omen that will do Imo people good. Indeed, because of the dividends government envisages the fourth tier would accrue to the populace if it is introduced, it therefore pursues the project with vigour, to the chagrin of the state work force, who though may believe in the policy, but are not supporting it because of the tool it would take on them, for the system to succeed, including dislodging them from their various places of work and family.
But what is fourth tier system? The Federal Government, with headquarter inAbujais the first.
That in the states are the second, while the Local Government are the third. Therefore, Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha wants to introduce a fourth tier of system, which would be domiciled at the grass of grass roots, which is the communities for the people to have a feel of the government.
In all honesty, I believe that the idea is laudable only of it is carried out to the spirit of letter of those pushing for the new system.
It will not only take power to the poor and down throden, it will impact on the people and also curb urban migration, as that which drives people out from their villages to the cities would have been provided for them right there in their communities.
The system is working in many countries in Europe, andAmericas. This is the reason why in places like theUnited States of America, citizens care more for their Mayors, before the Senators, Governors etc.
There are some Americans today who do not know about Barak Obama, and does not care, since all that the State owes its citizens are provided.
In the true circumstances, ifNigeriawere to be a realFederalRepublic, not many people would have cared aboutAbuja, like every one runs to the city for things, as minute as vehicle license.
However, in the case of the fourth tier government in Imo state, no matter how well accepted or rejected by the populace, there are certain rituals the government of the day ought to have done, before introducing such a venture to the people.
The government ought to have felt the pulse of the masses, through information gathering, before pushing it out to the public domain. It is not all that governments think that is well for the people that is truly good for the greater number of the society.
Therefore, there should have been grass root sensitization campaign through meetings, seminars etc. In democratic environments, you don’t push down any policy down the throat of the people by force.
In the first place, as a part of Nigerian Federation,ImoStatehas a limit of its powers as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. Does the state have the power to create this fourth tier system of government without having conflict with the almightyAbuja?
I am saying this because of the battle Bola Tinubu, as governor ofLagosState, faced with Obasanjo when he wanted to create more Local Government Areas in the state. The matter even dragged up to the Supreme Court, and in the end the LGAs were christened Local Government Development Areas beforeLagoscould get her with – held Federal Allocation.
Therefore, ifImoStatehas the power to create this system of government has the enabling law been put in place for the take – off of the project? Certainly, if the system has to succeed it must be run with funds. In order words, before a kobo is released from the state coffers it must be appropriated through the budget to be signed into law. It follows to state here that any kobo released to this Community Government without a backing law is a dangerous offence. Therefore, the law that permits this fourth Tier government and its functions must be on ground before its take off.
Since all laws in the state must emanate from the legislative arm of the state, I don’t know if the Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Hon Benji Uwajimogu and his colleagues has passed this Bill which must be signed into law by the state Governor. Governments do not operate in a vacuum. If no proper ground is prepared, the system will also whiter away like the Local Government Development centers, which Okorocha threw into the dust bin of history immediately he assumed office.
Now about the workers. I think the government ought to have run this system of Government with the staff in the Local Governments, since they are already on ground, and should have recruited new staff if need be, than go to distort the state Civil Service arrangement. That was where Owelle incurred the wrath of the workers, and they came out smoking.
In fact, Owelle would have also made use of the defunctLocalGovernmentDevelopmentCenterstaff, which is more closer to the grass root, than sacking them, and now trying to initiate what looks like the same LGDC. Was he too hasty in demolishing that system and now introducing a near replica of it?
Another point is that the Traditional Rulers should be left out of this business, since they already have their jobs carved out for them, which is customs and tradition. They should stay off from being tainted by politicians.
And again, the worst thing that would happen to Imo state is if the elections at this grass root level are rigged to install preferred candidates of government, to the detriment of the community. It could lead to mayhem, as community administration is too sensitive, and taken very serious by the masses. We all know how election for Traditional Rulers are conducted in Igbo communities. It takes lives, and its enmity last for eternity. This is how age grades, families, clans and communities are taking the election of the Speaker, Youth and Women Leader, since its announcement by government. Visit Imo communities and see first hand.
Therefore, any attempt to influence its out – come may spell doom for the state.
Another case in point is if the Fourth Tier will operate outside the Third Tier, which is the Local Government Areas? If that is the case, where is the place of the Councilors, since they are the elected representatives of the people at the grass roots?
I see a situation where the councilors may accuse the Speakers and Youth Leaders of taking a chunk of their duties, and this may breed problem.
Again, is there a criteria or standing rule stating the qualifications for the candidates of these posts? With education getting to nearly all families, now communities are populated with informed masses, and electing a nitwit as Speaker or Youth leader to lead people more educated than he/she will be counter productive.
Therefore, I would suggest that while government is still on this Fourth Tier arrangement, it should do more consultations now, sensitization and puts its book in order, for the project to be for the good of the majority of people, and not a sham exercise for personal political triumph to create kingdoms or puppet armies. 
