Senate Begins Move to Create LG Independent Electoral Commission … rejects Bill seeking for the Establishment of Transport Council

By Iyojo Ameh

The Nigerian Senate has commenced moves to amend the constitution to allow for the establishment of the Local Government Independent Electoral Commission.

This is subsequent to the First Reading of the bill on the floor of the Senate on Thursday plenary.

The bill sponsored by Senator Sani Musa representing Niger East seeks to establish an independent body to conduct elections at the local government level.

Recall that the Supreme Court last week delivered a judgement separating the local governments from the states account thereby making them entirely independent.

In the same vein, the Senate rejected the Bill seeking for the Establishment of National Road Transport Council.

The rejection followed the submission of some Senators on a Bill sponsored by Senator Yisa Ashiru, title of the Bill ” A Bill for an Act to establish National Road Transport Council to be saddled with the responsibility of regulating the road transport industry and the transport profession in Nigeria and for related matters, 2024 ( SB. 324).

In his lead debate, Senator Yisa stresses the importance of the Bill and the need to oversee and regulate transport companies in the Country.
Supporting the Bill, Senator Dicket Plang, Plateau Central and Senator Osita Ngwu, Enugu West stated the challenges faced as a result of improper regulations of the road.

They added that this Bill will help to protect the drivers and workers in the Country and bring very reliable Means of transportation.

On the contrary, Senator Victor Umeh, Anambra Central and Senator Adams Oshomole, Edo North opposed the Bill on the ground that there are many regulatory Agencies for road transportation in the Country.

They added that the most important thing is to make the existing Institutions work to avoid multiplication of duplicated Institutions.
The Senate President, after a long deliberation put it to a voice vote and the nays had it.”

Recall that the Bill was read for the first time at the floor of the Senate on 30th January, 2024.