Igbeaku Orji 
In line with the Local Government Autonomy, the Eze-elect of Nsirimo Amaise Autonomous Community in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State, Dr Charles Chukwuemeka Amanze, has called for the amendment of the State’s local government law to provide for representation of every autonomous community in local government councils administration.
Dr Amanze argued that the present arrangement in which a number of communities share one councillor did not make for adequate representation and needed to be reviewed to reflect the new autonomy status granted by Local Government Councils in Nigeria.
He insisted, in a statement that granting autonomy to council administration was not enough but proper law should be enacted to maximize the benefits of the new status for the good of the communities.
“To ensure equitable representation and effective governance, we propose that each autonomous community within the local government area have its own dedicated representative in the Local Council administration. This will replace the existing rotational system of Councillors,” he said.
He however, proposed that the Community Representative should not replace the Councillor who occupies the legislative arm of the local Councils, but rather play complementary roles, adding that adopting individual autonomous community representation would ensure that every community has “a strong, dedicated voice,” which would serve as a vital link between the local government and the community.
According to him, the primary functions of the Community Representative would include advocating community interests and needs, and providing feedback on Council and Community decisions, among others, observing that the multiple community representation system was dated in the 21st Century because the councillor has little knowledge of other communities needs nor is he accessible or accountable to them.
