By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
KOGI State House of Assembly has extended tenure of the 21 Local Government Committees by another six month to avoid creation of vacuum at the third tier of government.
The House gave the approval on Friday at plenary following adoption of a letter from the Executive signed by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo seeking approval of the House for the tenure extension.
Governor Ododo reminded the House that the tenure of the 21 Local Governments’ Transition Committees put in place by the immediate past Governor Yahaya Bello, would elapse on Monday, July 8.
The Governor said that it was the administration’s preference to conduct elections into the Local Government Councils.
He regretted that serious constraints arising from significant expenditure on emerging security challenges and other developmental matters had seriously affected the financial position of the state to conduct the polls.
The Governor, in the letter, stressed that the request for the extension of tenure was hinged on Section 263 of the state’s Local Government Amended Law, 2008,
He said that the extension which is to commence from July 9th, 2024 is expected to terminate on 28th day of January 2025.
The Executive Governor reiterated the administration’s once again assured Assembly members of our commitment to conduct local government convention as soon as practicable even that should deliver and improve financial standing
“The administration once again assured Assembly members of our commitment to conduct local government election as soon as practicable. ”
The legislators in their contributions, supported the request of the state government to have the Local Government Transition Committees chairmen tenure extended in view of paucity of funds to conduct elections into the Councils immediately.
In his ruling, Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf said it’s impracticable for the State Government to conduct local government election this time adding that it was not proper to allow Civil Servants take over the Councils.
The Speaker said that the House had the constitutional right to approve the extension saying, “We are activating one aspect of the law knowing that by Monday, their tenure would expire.” (Ends)