By Yabagi Mohammed.
A recent decision by the Kogi State Chapter of National Youth Council of Nigeria that the Local Government Chapters be dissolved has set the arms of youth association on collision course as the leadership of the council in the 21 Local Government Areas in the state have resolved to rebuff the directive with all the legal arsenal within the body.
Rising from a recent meeting held at Old German Camp Club, Ajaokuta in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of the state, Local Government Chapters President of the Forum, Comrade Abdullahi Adamu, who read their communiqué to the press said among their resolution was the fact that neither the NYCN Senatorial Chairman nor the State Chapter has the constitutional powers to dissolve their chapters.
He said contrary to claims by some individuals with unhealthy interest in the councils affairs, the tenure of the NYCN state chapter has expired since February 2016 as provided in the constitution of the body and called for vacation of the seats being ‘illegally’ occupied by members of the state chapter.
Comrade Abdullahi, who doubles as the Lokoja Local Government Chapter President stressed that “the Local government chapter president, being members of State Management Committee, here by call on the State chapter to do the needful by constituting Congress Planning Committee immediately to kick start election process.”
“All Local Government chapters whose tenure of office has elapse should constitute Congress Planning Committee to kick-start election process, and called on all the Local Government administrators, Heads of Departments of Education and Social Services Departments, to take note on the purported dissolution of NYCN Local government chapters by the zonal Vice Chairman, and described it as illegal.
Local Government Chapters of the Council while appreciating the state civil servants for their patience and cooperation with the present administration on the salary problems that the state has been embroiled for quite some times, praised the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for his efforts to sanitize the civil service in Kogi State.
The body however appealed to the governor to ensure that civil servants in the state whose complaints on the recently concluded screening have not addressed to do so in the interest of peace and harmony in the state and thank the governor for meeting up with the December 20th, 2016 deadline for payments of all arrears owed civil servants and pensioners in the state.
He expressed the determination of the NYCN in the 21 Local Government Areas to continue to support any people-friendly policies of government, saying that they have watched the activities of government keenly and realized that the present government means for the citizens of Kogi State.
The Local Government Area Presidents who attended the meeting include Comrade Abdullahi Adamu (Lokoja); Adama Idris (Ofu), Omojarabi Usman (Ijumu), Umar Muhammed Bako (Kogi/Koto Karfe), Atabo Tijani (Igalamela/Odolu), Johson Awe (Mopa), Idris Abdulrahaman (Okene), Isah Kabir (Dekina) and Adams Andah (Okehi). Others included Josiah Achimugu (Omala), Idris Akus (Ankpa), Osiako Moses (Ogori/Mangogo), Sikiru Olusegun (Yagba East) and Tenimu Obeta (Olamaboro). The rest were Anataku Salami (Adavi) and Ismaila M. A (Ajaukuta).
