The constitution of local government caretaker committees with seemingly interminable tenures in Kogi and 24 other States of the federation is illegal and must stop, the Federal House of Representatives said last week.
The House of Representatives warned the affected governors to conduct elections into the various councils immediately.
Some of the states are Kogi, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Bornu, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kano and Kaduna. Others are Katsina, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Yobe and Zamfara.
This resolution was consequent upon a motion sponsored by Hon. Friday Itulah (Edo/PDP), who submitted that the caretaker system of governance is alien and unknown to the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended). “State governments have been breaching Section 7 (1) of the constitution,” he said. “If this exercise by state governments is not checked, it may bring the country to a lawless state.”
Attempts by some lawmakers to get the House order for the suspension of monthly allocations to the affected local governments was rejected, as deputy speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, read a notice from the chairman, Committee on Business and Rules, Sam Tsokwa, of an existing Supreme Court ruling on the matter.
Besides, based on numerous court cases instituted in relation to the contentious caretaker committees, lawmakers agreed that any attempt to suspend the local governments’ allocations would not be backed by law.
