On Reinstating the Ondo LG Chairmen
Why, sir, most schemes of political improvement
are very laughable things----Dr Samuel Johnson
The reinstatement of the 18 sacked LG Chairmen in Ondo state by Federal Government is a right step in the right direction.
You can not wake up from the wrong side of your bed to sack the people's representatives.
Why disregarding the due process of the law.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state should have been the last person to disrespect the rule of law.
Jeff Nkwocha
LocalGovt. Study Network
www.nigeria-local-government.blogspot.com
08030485016
Sunday, March 29, 2009
On Removal of Kontagora LG Chairman
---
Dear Editor,
“A politician imitates the devil, as the devil imitates a cannon: wheresoever he comes to do mischief, he comes with his backside towards you” – John Webster.
The Niger State government in outright complicity with the state House of Assembly and the legislative army of Kontagora LG, removed the Executive chairman without following the due process of the law.
Section 3 sub – section 2 (c) of the state local Govt. law, as amended in 2004, which among other things stated that the Governor should furnish the House with the circumstances or otherwise to the suspension of any council chairman. This section was breached by Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State over the removal of Kontagora LG chairman, Hon. Abdulhamid El- Waziri.
This Executive high handedness was captured vividly by the reaction of the people across the state.
Debating on the matter, a member representing Mokwa Constituency, Saidu Idris, had argued that a council chairman can only be removed by two-third of the councilors while his alleged offence should be forwarded to the state House of Assembly.
Idris was supported by a member representing Bida (1) Constituency, Isa Kawu, who had argued that it would be out of law for the House to just approve the request of the governor when they knew nothing of what had transpired, pointed out that the House must not be seen as promoting illegality.
Insisted that supporting the impeachment of the chairman without making reference to the relevant laws was akin putting democracy in the state in jeopardy.
Punishment of any chairman, according to Kawu, should be done in consonance with law and not on the personal interest of the governor whom he said has no absolute power over who should occupy any elective position, especially in the council area.
Finally,this seemingly muddling of the legislature by the executive arm of Government should be discouraged by well meaning Nigerians.
Jeff Nkwocha
LocalGovt. Study Network
www.nigeria-local-government.blogspot.com
08030485016
Dear Editor,
“A politician imitates the devil, as the devil imitates a cannon: wheresoever he comes to do mischief, he comes with his backside towards you” – John Webster.
The Niger State government in outright complicity with the state House of Assembly and the legislative army of Kontagora LG, removed the Executive chairman without following the due process of the law.
Section 3 sub – section 2 (c) of the state local Govt. law, as amended in 2004, which among other things stated that the Governor should furnish the House with the circumstances or otherwise to the suspension of any council chairman. This section was breached by Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State over the removal of Kontagora LG chairman, Hon. Abdulhamid El- Waziri.
This Executive high handedness was captured vividly by the reaction of the people across the state.
Debating on the matter, a member representing Mokwa Constituency, Saidu Idris, had argued that a council chairman can only be removed by two-third of the councilors while his alleged offence should be forwarded to the state House of Assembly.
Idris was supported by a member representing Bida (1) Constituency, Isa Kawu, who had argued that it would be out of law for the House to just approve the request of the governor when they knew nothing of what had transpired, pointed out that the House must not be seen as promoting illegality.
Insisted that supporting the impeachment of the chairman without making reference to the relevant laws was akin putting democracy in the state in jeopardy.
Punishment of any chairman, according to Kawu, should be done in consonance with law and not on the personal interest of the governor whom he said has no absolute power over who should occupy any elective position, especially in the council area.
Finally,this seemingly muddling of the legislature by the executive arm of Government should be discouraged by well meaning Nigerians.
Jeff Nkwocha
LocalGovt. Study Network
www.nigeria-local-government.blogspot.com
08030485016
Friday, March 13, 2009
LG association and rural development
LG association and rural development
SIR: It was recently in the news that the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), has partnered with some relevant international bodies to ensure that social infrastructures get to the grassroots.
According to Hon. Tajudeen Toyin-Oke Chairman ALGON steering committee, ALGON was standing in for local governments to get money from international bodies to enable them put infrastructures on ground to increase the living standard of the people at the grassroots. He further said that, this is one of the policy thrusts ALGON has put in place towards sustainable growth and development in the country.
We commend ALGON for this proactive measure because we are aware that the Federal Government has stopped the sharing of the excess crude fund which formed the bulk of their allocations. We also know that their monthly allocations from the Federation Account has been hijacked by the state governments.
Therefore, in order to keep the social contract with the people, ALGON should not only empower individual council areas, but they should also pull their resources together and invest in some profitable ventures such as refineries and manufacturing plants whose dividends will help sustain them as a joint property.
By and large, these Business options could lead to political fraternity, because local councils would now exist as a formidable bloc.
Jeff Nkwocha,
konsult101@yahoo.com
+2348030485016
SIR: It was recently in the news that the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), has partnered with some relevant international bodies to ensure that social infrastructures get to the grassroots.
According to Hon. Tajudeen Toyin-Oke Chairman ALGON steering committee, ALGON was standing in for local governments to get money from international bodies to enable them put infrastructures on ground to increase the living standard of the people at the grassroots. He further said that, this is one of the policy thrusts ALGON has put in place towards sustainable growth and development in the country.
We commend ALGON for this proactive measure because we are aware that the Federal Government has stopped the sharing of the excess crude fund which formed the bulk of their allocations. We also know that their monthly allocations from the Federation Account has been hijacked by the state governments.
Therefore, in order to keep the social contract with the people, ALGON should not only empower individual council areas, but they should also pull their resources together and invest in some profitable ventures such as refineries and manufacturing plants whose dividends will help sustain them as a joint property.
By and large, these Business options could lead to political fraternity, because local councils would now exist as a formidable bloc.
Jeff Nkwocha,
konsult101@yahoo.com
+2348030485016
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