By Awoleye Kayode
The just concluded UK local elections which took place across England and Wales have been described as a wreckage for the ruling Conservative party. The resistance was massive. The outcome has really changed the political dynamics of UK. Conservative has really been dealt a blow by the UK electorate.
In the build up to the election, everybody knew the Tories were going to be punished at the polls ,but this kind of tsunamic wave that has almost consumed the Tories was never envisaged. Conservative has always trailed Labour in the public opinion polls,hence its electoral misfortune never came as a surprise to many. With the Labour overwhelming gains across England, it’s said that Conservative has suffered its worst electoral adversity in 40 years.
Labour also won the parliamentary by-election in Blackpool South,. The seat became vacant as a result of Scott Benton’s resignation.Scott Benton was the Conservative MP who got embroiled in lobbying scandal. Labour also ousted a number of Conservative MPs.
Economy, health and immigration are some of the issues that shaped the local elections. Aside, It is a verdict on Rishi Sunak’s premiership as his Conservative party has suffered heavy loses across England. Labour party won control of councils that the party hasn’t held for decades and its electoral surge is imminent. Though,this a local election,but with these results,it is expected that Labour may return to power after 14 years of interregnum in the coming general election that is fast approaching.
Sunak’s political goodwill has really been battered over the years. This may not be unconnected with the many sins of Conservative party in recent years. The series of scandals that have rocked the Tories in recent past are too conspicuous not to be noticed by the electorate. Boris Johnson’s administration opprobrium, Liz Truss inglorious and short-lived tenure as Prime Minister and Rishi Sunak’s immigration policy amidst high cost of living are enough grounds to punish the Tories.
UK’s local government system comprises of parishes,community councils, neighborhood councils, village and town councils ,city councils, metropolitan boroughs,county councils and districts councils , regional governments,etc.However, elections did not take place in every party of England,but in 107 councils and 11 mayors,25 members of London Assembly as well as 37 police and crime commissioners. Blackpool South parliamentary election was also held.
Aside from serving as a measure of public opinion,local elections in UK afford the people the delivery of certain public services,hence local elections are equally important as central elections. Local councils in UK are saddled with a whole lot of responsibilities. They are responsible for the wellbeing of their people. Some of the responsibilities of UK’s local governments are , economy, energy policy social services,health,transportation,sport, housing, policing and crime, education,fire,and what have you. With this kind of structure, local people are best placed to decide the priorities of their local government.
As a country with a unitary constitution, local governments in the United kingdom exercise powers delegated to them by the central government represented by his Majesty, the British Monarch. The powers are held in trust by the local authorities. Devolution of powers is a major attribute of a unitary constitution, Howbeit,the powers are well spelt out for the benefits of all and sundry.
What then is the difference between a unitary state and a federal state? Unitary state is a country governed as a single entity in which the central government is the supreme authority. States and other tiers of government in a unitary state exercise powers delegated to them by the central government and such powers can be abolished by the delegator. Powers are usually delegated to the constituent units through devolution of powers and such decisions can be overridden by the central government.
Federalism is a system which combines central government and regional/local governments as entities of equal status and in which all governmental powers and functions that exist in a country are shared between the central government and the component states and other sub-national units. The states/provinces and other tiers are not inferior to the central government and their decisions cannot be overridden by the central government. United States is the finest model of federalism.US states are run like countries within a country. Each of the states has its own constitution and supreme court.. In fact,some professions are governed by state law, especially law and medicine. For instance,lawyers trained in the State of Texas will require a State Bar license to practice in the State of Michigan.
But beyond the concept of federal and unitary systems of government, UK’s regional and local governments are responsible, viable,and functional and they enjoy a considerable level of autonomy. Regardless of the system, governmental powers and functions must trickle-down either by sharing (federal) or devolution ( unitary).
Nigeria prides itself a federal State, but its states and local governments regard themselves as adjuncts and appendages of the federal government. The conduct of Mr President in a recent fisticuffs between Emperor Wike and Fubara was nothing short of travesty. Inviting and dictating to Fubara on how to run Rivers State by Tinubu was both ridiculous and an abuse of principles of federalism. Ideally,no Nigerian governor is inferior to Mr President.
It has been said that constituents like states, provinces, regions and local governments, are more functional and empowered within a federal system. But this is contrary to what we have in Nigeria.. Nigerian states and local governments are caricatures of federalism. They cannot generate their own revenue. They cannot protect nor secure their people. They cannot even pay the salaries of their workers.They are grossly inefficient.They are just too residual that you begin to question their essence. In fact,local government administration have gone into extinction.
It’s a common knowledge that the kind of structure we have in Nigeria where everybody runs to Abuja for help cannot work anywhere. Such system will be lopsided, overwhelmed and worn-out.Despite being a unitary state,Brritish regional and local authorities are more defined and empowered than Nigeria’s tiers of government that prides itself a federation.
How viable and functional is the local government administration in UK? Being the largest and most economically viable local government administrative unit in UK,I will focus more on Greater London Authority. Greater London is the administrative area of the metropolis of London. It consists of 32 boroughs and the ceremonial county of City of London. Greater London Authority is responsible for the strategic governance of the local area which is one of the world’s leading financial centres and industrialized regions.
London economy is one of the largest sub-national economies in the world. In fact,much bigger than Nigeria’s economy. The budget of Greater London Authority is over 20 billion pounds. This is bigger than Nigeria’s national budget. This is aside the budget of each of the 32 London boroughs. During the cost of living crisis,it supported its citizens with a whopping sum of 216 million pounds.
Nevertheless, Creater London is a local area with a considerable devolved powers and functions. It has its own legislature that scrutinizes the activities of the executive. It is independent, functional, economically viable and immune from unnecessary interference by the national government. It has its own police (Metropolitan), rail networks and,energy corporation. It maintains its highways and housing scheme.
Vibrant policing system is one of the hallmarks of local government administration in UK. Like every other UK’s territorial police units , Greater London police department ,Metropolitan Police is responsive, effective,well funded and one of the best in the world. Its annual budget is over 4 billion pounds. Its marine unit operates more than 20 vessels . It also has a fleet of helicopters maintained by National Police Air Service . Crime protection is a serious business.
Most of the UK’s local governments operate their own transport system–which comprises of rail system,tram,buses ,marine transport, and the rest. Transport for London (TfL) ,a statutory transportation corporation owned by the Greater London Authority is the largest local government run transportation company in UK. It operates several rail networks, like London Underground, Docklands Light Rail,trams,buses ,taxis, cycling and marine transport.
TfL succeeded Passenger Transport Board established in 1933. Since the creation in 2000, TfL has continued to serve the people of London in a most efficient way. It has introduced many cutting edge technology and initiatives and infrastructure development. Its budget of over 10 billion pounds is funded through direct grants from the Greater London Authority, money generated from fares and borrowing. TfL is self-sufficient and has funded numerous research and innovations. Smooth running of TfL and other business concerns by the Greater London Authority demystifies the belief that government has no business in business. With the right orientation and environment, government-owned corporations and companies can thrive.
Nothing prevents local governments and other sub-national units from investing in infrastructure, public utilities, commercial entities and services that will contribute to the general welfare and human development index of their people. This is a very visible aspect of UK’s local administration.Newquay Airport, Manchester Airport Holdings, Blackpool Transport,West Yorkshire Metro , London Power, are owned by Cornwall Council,Greater Manchester, Blackpool Council,West Yorkshire Combined Authority , and Greater London Authority respectively.
However,one may not be surprised that local elections in UK are taken serious. The fact of the matter is that these local governments are saddled with enormous responsibilities and powers. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan controls more resources than Nigeria’s President. In fact, Greater London is wealthier and more industrialized than Nigeria.
Nigeria did not just become an enclave of over 140 million poverty-stricken people and a battered entity. . Aside from the recklessness of the political leaders/looters, government revenues and expenditures at various levels are too lean. The population of Greater London is around 9 million while Nigeria’s population is estimated to be over 200 million people. It is very absurd to know that budget of London alone is bigger than Nigeria’s national budget. Ditto New York City with a budget of over 92 billion US dollars. What we call budget in Nigeria is not even enough to solve our power debacle. The truth of the matter is that every aspect of our national life is begging for attention, and with this kind of lean budget, the situation looks hopeless.
Countries that embrace multi-level system of government are doing better. Everything is too over centralized in Nigeria. I am not sure of any country that runs a single and centrally controlled police system like Nigeria. This contributes to the precarious situation of our security architecture.The disruption in the supply chain and inefficiency witnessed in our oil sector is one of the fallouts of over centralization of governmental functions. What prevents states and local governments from having their own oil and gas policy and floating their own oil corporation? In a recent newspaper publication,NNPC even boasts that it has regained its status as the sole importer of petrol into the country. Why should the NNPC be the sole importer of petrol and last-resort supplier? We are in this quagmire because NNPC monopolizes all the activities in the oil sector and still serves as the regulator.
Ekiti State can actually map out its own energy policy and blueprint,own corporations, generate its own revenue and be self-sufficient. States that are even having natural resources at their backyards cannot exploit them for the benefit of their people. This is retrogressive and dysfunctional.
London Power,an electricity and gas supply company owned by the Greater London Authority supplies electricity and gas to the people of London. The company was established in 2019 by Sadiq Khan,the Mayor of London to supply electricity and gas at subsidized rates to the people of London. The Mayor has also promised to plough back the profits from the company into social services.
It’s a pity that Nigeria’s local government system has been subdued with its attendant local initiatives and deliverables. They lack the wherewithal to run a functional government.The significance of multi-level system of government to the wellbeing of a nation cannot be overemphasized. Considering the kind of untapped potentials embedded in states and local governments,it may not be out of point to refer to them as sleeping and latent giants.
Yes,the British local elections have come and gone. Winners and losers have emerged. Those who didn’t meet people’s expectations got punished by the electorate. British electorate have chosen who they believed have the ideas that can change their wellbeing. Statecraft is actually a science.Politics is not about emotions,tribal considerations. It is not even an avenue to gratify the life ambition of anybody. Public offices are meant for public good. British local elections is an epitome of transparency, accountability, human development and renewal of social contract between the leaders and the governed.
Needles to say,we need a new thinking and orientation as a nation. As citizens, we should begin to ask for good governance as all levels of governments. States and local governments are veritable tools for human development. The potentials are enormous. I sincerely hope the sleeping giant can be awakened for the benefits of all and sundry.
