Nasarawa State L.G Elected Officials Tenure Elongation Fallout By Rabiu Omaku, Lafia
- Al-Makura cautions council officials to obey constitution
Tough times await members of the Nasarawa state House of Assembly in spite of the advice of the state governor to elected officials to take the path of honor to vacate office as stipulated by the state legislators on 23/3/2015,as all effort to dissolved elected council chairmen in the state continued to generates tension amongst the lawmakers who are seeking for their re-election to office.
The lawmakers has exhausted all avenues to oust the chairmen on 23/3/2015 which was five days to presidential and national Assembly elections, It may be an effortless move to dislodge Local Government chairmen from office as the one year tenure of office elapse mid-night Tuesday (today).
Nasarawa state House of Assembly members are jittery over the verdict of the court which was still pending in the appeal court, The position of the some concerned indigenes of the state was for the court to restrain the Assembly from dissolving them on 23/3/2015 as members of the House are running from center to goal post seeking for how to wrestling the situation.
It was further gathered the case may not favorable the chairmen, Stating that the delay in the pending case would only allow the embattled chairmen to continue in office but would exceed the period of six months before the continuation of the matter .
PDP lawmakers are at cross road with the position of the court; This may not only be a stumbling block to the victory of the members but the entire election from president, senate, House of representatives and Assembly as council officials would work assidicioulsy for the victory of their platform
The concerned Forum of the All Progressives Congress challenged the position of the House reducing the tenure of elected council officials from two years to one year as a legal rascality and judicial summerssault,The forum appealed to the state governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to allow the judiciary to take it cause in the discharge of their duty.
Barrister Sani Bawa during a press briefing described the unfolding event as undemocratic and illegal,He said that the one year tenure for Local council is too short a period that will bring any meaningful achievement having given consideration to the enormous money expended in preparing the election ,It is not only morally wrong but does not depict common sense ,equity nor conform with good conscience and public policy.
“we are urging the governor to disregard the resolution of the lawmakers asking for the dissolution of elected council officials on or before 24/3/2015 “challenging action of the members as malice with disregard to Rule of Law ,equity, common sense and good conscience.
He further said the amendment of Local council tenure was done while the matter was pending in court and being challenged by some fascinated parties, Barrister Bawa said the action was regarded by the court in the matter between Barrister Sani Bawa Vs NSHA in a suit No.NSD/LF85/2010 as not only careless but reckless.
Bar. Bawa who was a beneficiary of tenure elongation said the amendment of tenure of council chairmen was done devoid of public hearing before the passage of the law.
Nasiec issued out notice to the public on the date and modalities of the election which clearly was indicative of 2 years tenure.
There was a pending matter challenging the amendment.
The concerned Forum applauded governor Al-Makura the provision of infrastructural development especially in the areas of township roads and rural road network, He however commend the sitting governor for the introduction of free secondary and primary education ,construction of e’library,free Neco fee.
Others are the implementation of new minimum wage, settled 25bn debt, entrenchment of democratic values and principles,
Is no longer news that the unfolding legal battle over tenure of the third tier of government was the continuation of the exigencies between the former governor,Akwe Doma ,The House of Assembly and elected Local Government officials, Only time shall tell.
