By Muhammad Tanko Shittu
Jos
A bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Local Government Councils and development areas has been passed by the Plateau State House of Assembly.
The House yesterday deliberated on a report submitted by its Committee Chairman on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Baba Hassan, and subsequently passed into law.
In the report the Hon. Baba Hassan, said the committee, had observed that the repelled 1999, Local Government law the power of the Governor to take extraordinary, measures on Local Government Councils is limitless.
“It is also observed that the power to extend the tenure of incumbent Councils (Chairmen) due to inability of the (State electoral), Commission to conduct elections is not giving a specific period within which the said elections can be conducted,” the reports emphasised amongst others.
The committee’s report further recommended under clause 96 (a & b), that the governor shall only seek for the extension of tenure of elected councils chairman by first instance of three months with only additional 3 months, should any circumstances shall cause for the inability of the electoral commission to conduct elections.
However, having Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, raised an issue citing section 1 of the 1999 Constitution which stressed the supremacy of the constitutional provision above any law, and further cited section 7 (1), of the Constitution which stipulates that Local Government system shall be under democratically elected structures, the House delineated upon and agreed on the possibility of extending the tenure by only three months, thereby expunging clause 96 (b).
The House also considered the recommendation of the committee and passed into law for the establishment of the office if the auditor – general of the Local Government Council, among many other recommendations for the smooth running of the local councils.
