Hon.Adewale and Amuwo-Adofin LG Development

Hon.Adewale and Amuwo-Adofin LG Development



At a times when politics got tough in amuwo odofin local government, especially on who should be the next chairman of the local government , people were saying a lot of things that comrade Ayodele was young and that he could not pilot the affairs of local government.
Today,all those negative thoughs have been proved wrong by the performance of the executive chairman, comrade Ayodele Adewale.I believe in the adage that says ' tough time do not last but tough men do last.'
Comrade Adewale various landmark achievement ,visionary ,well-focused agenda, remarkable innovations, people-oriented and quality leadership have proved him the best man for the job.

I sincerely commend the leadership and political prowess of council boss. What the opposition thought he could not do he has done better. And of course this exemplary commitment has clearly enshrined his name in the history book of Amuwo Odofin local government and Nigeria in general.
The administration of the local government under the leadership of comarade Adewale has actually touched every facet of life in Amuwo Odofin local government..
If I should go by statistics, 50 street sweepers, 50 green club memebers, 30 drain duck workers, 143 street protectors/defenders,66 cleaners for public schools and 50 young men for man o'war, just to mention a few, have been employed within his 200 days in office.


The Amuwo-Odofin executive chairman comrade Ayodele Adewale , has embarked on building and renovation of schools, and also promoting education standard by purchasing JAMB and GCE forms for students in the council.

The council boss said that he has purchased 500 JAMB and 600 GCE forms for students who are willing to further their education to tertiary institution , in addition to free tutorial class for indigenous students to promote education in the aera.

Comrade Adewale said ,' we have constructed a block of six classrooms at Avenue primary school at Igbologun primary school,renovation of 3rd Avenue primary school, production of 220,000 exercise books and of 13380 uniforms for public primary schools in Amuwo-Odofin local government council.

In another development the renovation and upgrading of facilities at the public health center in mile2 and Festac, complete with equipment and free medical treatment to residents are also said to have become operational. Provision of medical equipment to Igbologun PHC, employment of seven doctors, two pharmacists to improve the health centre services have been put in place as regular EPI progammes, free diabetes and hypertension tests.

His administation has sisncerely treaded on the path of honour by fast tracking all the needed developments within the local government.He deserves kudos for work well done so far.

Jeff Nkwocha
Local Government Study Network
www.nigeria-local-government.blogspot.com
08030485016
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Non conduct of LG election in Anambra State

Dear Editor.

Non conduct of LG election in Anambra State

Why is it always Anambra State ? This was a statement credited to one of the Northern State Governors on the socio-political impasses in Anambra state.

Anambra state is the only state that is holding election in 2010, one year short of general election in Nigeria as a result of political palaver.

Anambra state also earned a special status in many other ways. Apart from being the first in the history of the country to record what could be termed the first civilian coup d’etat, it also took the same position in many other national developments. It is the first state where a sitting governor lost his or her position on the basis of a successful election petition, the first where a governor failed to celebrate a month in office.

It is on record that Anambra State is the only State that had not conducted local government elections since 1999, ten full years into the present political dispensation. By this singular act, the State government has not only alienated the people from having their representatives close enough to serve them but has denied them the much cherished dividends of democracy. This was exactly what President Umaru Musa Yar’adua had in mind when he said, “It is our abiding belief that failure in instituting an acceptable process by which the representatives of the people are chosen will definitely resort in failure in the long run. Yes Anambra State has failed in the long run, no good road Network, no water , no security of life and property,corruption and money laundering is now the order of the day.

We the members of Local Government Study Network are calling on the people of Anambra State not to vote for any governorship candidate that has no plan to conduct Local Government election.



Jeff Nkwocha
Local Government Study Network
www.nigeria-local -government.blogspot.com

08030485016

SUSPENSION OF SOBA LG BOSS IN BAD FATE

SUSPENSION OF SOBA LG BOSS IN BAD FATE



Those who are smart to engage

in politics are punished by

being governed by those

who are dumber--Plato

The suspension of Alhaji Kawu Yakassai, the executive chairman of Soba Local Government of Kaduna State was done in bad fate. This is a man who was suspended on alleged offence of making payment on non-existing projects but the preliminary report of the committee investigating him has exonerated him.



The Chairman Adhoc Committee investigating his alleged offence, Alhaji Bashin Idris Aliyu was reported as saying, “we have inspected some of the projects executed by Kawu Yakassai, we found out that nearly all projects were in place. Some projects had been completed while others are undergoing completion.

But most importantly, we have found all projects to be in place. So, the committee will now come together to work on our series of observations.

We therefore commend Alhaji Bashiri Aliyu who is also the majority leader of Kaduna House of Assembly for his unbiased report.



Nigerians will like to see a situation where an alleged offence of any Local Government Chairman is first investigated before been suspended. This will save the innocent ones from unnecessary embarrassment.



Jeff Nkwocha

Local Govt. Study Network

www.nigeria-local-government.blogspot.com

08030485016

Local Govt and denure reduction burden

Local govt and tenure reduction burden
By sJeff Nkwocha
Sunday, July 19, 2009
• Photo: Sun News Publishing
•More stories on this section

In a recent report, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Oyo State Chapter, threatened to protest to the state House of Assembly if the lawmakers went ahead with the plan to reduce the tenure of chairmen and councillors in the 33 local government areas from three to two years.

According to the state NANS president, Monsuru Adeyemo, the lawmakers’ plan was capable of causing confusion in the state.

The question is, what is the interest of the lawmakers in pursuing this line of action? What stops elected council administrators from enjoying four-year term like the president, governors and members of the national and state assemblies?
Political observers now understand that lawmakers do not project the interest of the people. Rather their stand on local government tenure is borne out of petty jealousy and retaliatory reactions.

For instance in Nasarawa State, it was on the eve of local government election, when the candidates of the governor sailed through against those nominated by the lawmakers that they went back to their chambers to reduce the tenure of local government to one year.

In the same vein, the current face-off between the House of Assembly and council chairmen in Oyo State might not be unconnected with some petitions allegedly written to the anti-graft agencies by the council bosses against the lawmakers. Some of the council chairmen were not happy with the way they were compelled to pay certain amount of money to lawmakers from their respective councils.

Are we degenerating into what a renowned philosopher, John Webster, said: “A politician imitates the devil, as the devil imitates cannon. Wheresoever he comes to do mischief, he comes with his backside towards you.” God forbid!

•Jeff Nkwocha
Local Government Study Network
www.nigeria-local-government.blogspot.com
08030485016

Otirhue and okpe LG Development

Otirhue and okpe LG Development
Hon. Joseph Otirhue, the Executive Chairman of Okpe Local government is revered by his people for his knack for development and his ability to carry the people along in his administration. Otirhue is one of the 25 council chairmen in Delta State who have completely aligned his developmental strides with the 3 points agenda of the state Government on people and security,human capital and infrastructural developments.

On assumption of office, he earmarked N25m to be given out as loan to indigenes of the area who are traders .This singular act has not only empowered the people but it has also beef up the socio-economic life of the council Area.

He promised his people that he will complete all abandoned project before embarking on new ones, soon after the Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has commissioned the ultra modern office complex and other projects within his 100days in office.

On his peace agenda ,he purchased a Toyota Hilux pickup van for the police patrol in the area. He also believed that to nib youths restiveness on the bud and reduce unemployment, he has organized skill acquisition programmes for the youths in various trade, football club and training talented players were been sponsored across the LG Council.
Education and Health were given top priority in Hon. Otirhue’s administration. He has purchased books worth millions of Naira for primary and secondary schools in the council on health, the Okpe LG boss has embarked on Anti-hypertensive care campaign, deworming exercise for children between the ages of 9 months to 15 years.
He has also ensured that the monthly local immunization program is carried out to the letter.
The Okpe LG Council is working in collobration with the state Primary Health Care Development Agency for the treatment of tuberculosis, leprosy, River blindness for Okpe citizens.
Infrastructural development which is one of the cordinal programe of the state Government is also vigorously implemented in the council area.
Otirhue administration has completed 80,000 litres –capacity solar powered water supply at Merese
, an ancestral town of the Okpes.
In the same town, he has built 5 blocks residential quarters for the Police.In fact, at the moment more than 27 projcts has been embarked upon, some have been completed while others are on going.
Finally if other LG council chairmen are working as much as Hon. Otirhue, the call for scrapping of the third tier of government couldn’t have arisen, let other LG bosses borrow a leaf from Hon. Joseph Otirhue.

Jeff Nkwocha
Local Government Study Network
www.nigeria-local-govwenment.blogspot.com
08030485016

Let rule of law apply on sack of LG chairmen

Let rule of law apply on sack of LG chairmen
By Jeff Nkwocha
Sunday, April 12, 2009 •More stories on this section

The fundaments of justice are that no one shall suffer wrong, and that the public good be served -Marcus Tullius Cicero

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made it nearly impossible to remove the President and state governors. But the Constitution loses its grip when it comes to the third tier of government.
While the present local government councils derive the power and legitimacy from the Constitution, it however handed over their supervision to the states and their legislative houses, which invariably leads to the abuse of section 7(1).

This section stipulates that the government of every state shall ensure the existence of democratically elected local government councils. The result is that today council chairmen can be removed from office either by the governors, the state assemblies or even the legislative arm of their councils. They can also be sacked by reducing their tenure to one year.

In the present dispensation, not less than 12 council chairmen have either been suspended or sacked. Many are being threatened with impeachment across the country. The reasons for their removal range from mere fracas and internal wrangling in their councils to absence from their party’s activities. Some have been removed on trumped-up allegations while others were sacked without explanation.

In Benue State, Hon Terlumun Akpaku of Kwande Local Government and his Gboko counterpart, Hon Simeon Abua Yajir have been suspended as well as Hon Tele Ogunjobi of Ijebu North in Ogun State. In Kwara State, the Ilorin East chairman, Hon Usman Bibire Ajape and his Kontagora counterpart in Niger State, Abdulhamid El-Waziri, have both been removed. In Edo State, Hon Crosby Eribo of Egor Council was first suspended by the state assembly before he was booted out by the election tribunal.
Those having impeachment notices hanging on their neck include Dr Mike Ehima of Oredo Council (Edo), Chief Askia Ogieh of Isoko South Council (Delta State), Hon Goddy Kanu (Umuahia South) and Princewill Ukaegbu (Umuahia North) both in Abia State.
Others are Anthony Agbazuere (Isiala Ngwa North) and Glory Okechukwu Kanu (Ukwa East) also in Abia State.

We, members of the Local Government Study Network and other fair-minded Nigerians, are calling on the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review (JCCR) to ensure that elected council chairmen are protected from arbitrary removal from office. Punishment for any chairman should be in consonance with the law and not at the whim of the state governors, members of state assemblies or the legislative arm of the councils.

• Jeff Nkwocha
Local Government Study Network
www.nigeria-local-government.blogspot.com
08030485016

On Reinstating the Ondo LG Chairmen

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