Minna — As the National Assembly begins the process for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Aliyu, has suggested the retention of the local government area system in the interest of greater percentage of Nigerians.

With the retention of local government system in the nations' statutes, Aliyu said development in council areas would be better guaranteed while those elected to man the affairs at that level of government would be adequately supervised to ensure that the electorate get value for their vote.

He, however, chastised some state governors who had been meddling in the affairs of the local governments as if they were appendages of the state administration.

He also took a swipe at those agitating for the outright scrapping of local government administration, reminding them of the need to consider the interest of the people they govern first.

The governor bared his mind while exchanging views with a delegation of the House of Representatives which was in Niger State as part of its oversight functions.

Aliyu said the local government system remained the best approach for the development of rural communities of the country.

He said as a result of the closeness of the third tiers of government to the people who formed majority of the Nigerian populace, government policies and programmes could be easily passed to the people through it.

While calling on the National Assembly to be cautious in handling issues concerning the retention or otherwise of the third tiers of government, Aliyu observed that, "in a true federalism which Nigeria is practicing, local governments must be given chance to deliver democracy dividends to the vast majority of the people."