Flowerbud News
The Kebbi House of Assembly, on Wednesday, commenced public hearing on the Bill for a law to amend the Local Government Law, 2008 and for other matters connected therein.
The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Tuesday, four executive bills scaled second reading in the house.
The bills are, the Kebbi State Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Kebbi State Local Government Service Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024, Kebbi State Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Kebbi State Electricity Bill, 2024.
Declaring the hearing open on the bill to amend LG law, the Speaker of the house, Alhaji Muhammad Usman, said the hearing marked a significant moment in their collective efforts to strengthen local governance.
This, he said, would ensure that the foundational institutions of democracy in the state remained responsive, accountable, and effective.
“It is for this reason that we gathered here today to ensure that the laws guiding the operations of our local governments are in alignment with the current realities and needs of the people,” he said.
Usman recalled that since the passage of the local government law in 2008, the state has witnessed numerous changes politically, socially, and economically.
He added that the changes necessitated a thorough review of existing law to ensure that it remained a living document capable of addressing both present and future challenges.
“The bill seeks to enhance the capacity of local government to deliver better services, improve their financial autonomy, tenure of office and promote transparency and accountability in their operations,” the speaker explained.
On his part, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Salihu Muhammad, assured that the bill would get accelerated passage that would make it possible for incoming LG Chairmen and Councilors to enjoy three-year tenure elongation instead of two years.
In his submission, the Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, described the imposed mandatory payment of the non-refundable fees by the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC) as not only highly exorbitant but unwarranted.
He said the fees contravened the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
The fees, according to him, violated the principles of democracy and social justice, adding that it had also constituted a friction for political parties and their candidates to participate in the upcoming LG polls in the state.
”Similarly, section 43 of the Local Government Law, 2008 provides for LG Election Tribunal. This law fails to make provision for appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal, hence, it should be amended,” he advised.
NAN
