LG autonomy : Obey the law, constitution, NSHA tells LG Chairmen. Urges one percent remittance of federal allocations to LGSC

By David Odama

Nasarawa State House of Assembly, says it will take drastic measures in line with the law and constitution against any Local Government Chairman that is found wanting while discharging his duties.

Hon. Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, the Chairman , House Committee on LG, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs stated this in an interactive session with Chairmen of the 13 Local Government Areas today in Lafia.

Musa (APC- Doma South) said that with the autonomy granted to the Local Governments, the Chairmen have no excuse to fail their people.

He said that the interaction was to familiarise themselves with the new LG Chairmen and to synergize with them for grassroots development in the State.

According to him, now that there is local government autonomy, we expect you to use the money that will be sent to your local government accounts transparently.

” You are all aware that the Federal Government has granted financial autonomy to local government councils in the country.

” You will be recieving you money directly from the federation account.

” We reserved the responsibilities and rights as lawmakers to check your spendings and have your income and expenditure slips as enshrined in the constitution” he said.

He also urged the local government chairmen to key into different policies and programmes that would have direct bearing on the lives of their people.

Hon. Musa urged the local government chairmen to obey all laws of the House and the constitutional provisions while discharging their duties in the interest of peace and grassroots development.

” We have enacted new LG law and His Excellency the Governor has signed it, we expect you to obey our laws.

“We have all the powers to invoke all the relevant sections of the constitution to deal with any erring chariman or chairmen” he said.

Hon. Musa called for good working relationship between the House and the local government chairmen for the overall development of the State.

The committee chairman urged the chairmen to promote unity, peace and security in their respective local government areas.

He assured them of their effective synergy and collaboration for grassroot development in the State.

Besides, he used the medium to cleared the air that the House new law on LG did not scrapped Local Government Service Commission to avoid abuse of powers by local government chairmen in the area of recruitment, promotion, training and discipline among others.

He urged the chairmen to remit one percent statutory allocation from federation accounts to Local Government Service Commission for staff training among others.

“There will be retreat for local government chairmen in the state.

” There is going to be security workshop for traditional rulers across the state to curtail the security challenges in the state” he added.

All lawmakers who spoke including the Vice Chairman of the committee Hon. Hajarat Danyaro Ibrahim urged the local government chairmen to execute capital and other proejcts that would have direct bearing on the lives of their people.

They have also called for good working relationship between the executive and legislative arms at the local governments.

Earlier, Hon. Safiyanu Isa Andaha, the ALGON Chairman and Chairman , Akwanga LGA appreciated the committee for the interactive session and pledged their readiness to live above board while discharging their duties.

” We will be fair, just, accountable and prudent in the management of our council resources.

” We will always be loyal to you and law abiding by God’s grace” he said.

The Chairman pledged their readiness to prioritize the security of their people for the overall development of their councils.

He also assured of their readiness to provide infrastructure and other dividends of democracy to their people.