Senate’s actions target governors in relation to local governments

The Senate asked the federal government to suspend statutory funding to such undemocratic councils on Friday, joining the trend of state governors dissolving elected local government councils and installing caretaker committees in their place.

The resolution was part of a motion that the Senate, led by President Godswill Akpabio, approved in Abuja.

The Minority Leader, Abba Moro (Benue-South), made the motion and alerted the assembly of the state governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia,’s determination to dissolve the local government councils.

Additionally, the Senate asked “the Federal Government to withhold statutory allocations to local government councils not democratically elected” and denounced “the arbitrary dissolution of democratically elected local government councils in Benue and other states in Nigeria.”

It explicitly urged Governor Alia to reconsider the dissolution of the councils in order to fulfil his oath of office, uphold the law, and protect the nation’s constitution.

The Senate notes with dismay the dissolution of democratically elected councils in Benue State, according to a portion of the motion.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that appointing caretaker committees to replace elected councils is an anomaly.

Recognised that a system of locally elected council governance is guaranteed by Section (1) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Also conscious of the fact that every state has a constitutional obligation to guarantee local government councils’ existence through legislation.

“Also aware that the governor and government of Benue State have not appealed these judgements and that it goes against the grain of the rule of law, as well as that there are current court rulings instructing the governor, the House of Assembly, their agents, privies, etc., not to tamper with the tenure of the elected councils.”

Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (Edo-North), adding his voice to the debate on the resolution, said that over sixteen states in the nation did not yet have democratically elected councils.

According to Oshiomhole, the Senate need to request that the Minister of Finance cease providing cash to local government bodies that lack elected representatives.

The motion was also supported by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North) and Senate Whip Ali Ndume.

In order to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the authority to hold local government elections going forward, Buhari asked for a modification to the Electoral Act of 2022.

In his remark, Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) stated that the governors’ actions had persisted in undermining efficient local government management in Nigeria.

There is a constitutional guarantee that elected persons will lead local governments. All of us pledged to respect the constitution. Umeh said, “The squandering of their resources is a result of this horrific emasculation of the local government system.

Before the motion was put to a vote, Senator Akpabio made a recommendation for the formation of a national electoral commission for local governments.

He claims that by deciding who would be a council official, this will reduce the governors’ oppressive power over council elections.