Salisu Usman, a professor and political economist, has called on the federal government to convert the seized housing estate of former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele into liaison offices for the 774 local councils.
Mr Usman, in a statement on Sunday, said this would ensure each council has a physical presence in the nation’s capital and collaborate with federal government ministries and agencies.
After a final forfeiture declaration by the judiciary, the government decided to sell the 753 housing units confiscated from Mr Emefiele to Nigerians.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seized the properties, and a structural integrity test would be done before the sale. This was recently disclosed in a joint statement from the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the EFCC.
The estate covers more than 150,000 square metres and comprises duplexes and other apartments.
According to Mr Usman, converting the properties into council liaison offices will promote national representation, administrative convenience and unity.
“The proposal will ensure administrative utility, as the estate could serve as official liaison offices for local governments to interface with federal ministries, agencies, and development partners.
“It would also reduce expenses on accommodation for Local Government chairpersons, officials, or delegations visiting the FCT. Additionally, it will promote national unity and generate revenue for each LGA through commercial ventures,” he said.
Mr Usman advised that the cost of building the extra 21 units and completing the existing ones should be equitably deducted from the monthly federal allocations to councils over a period of time.
This approach, he said, would ensure the project’s success and strengthen Nigeria’s federal system.
He added that the initiative would be a legacy project, giving every part of Nigeria a physical footprint in the capital and strengthening grassroots governance at the national level.
(NAN)
