Nasarawa State House of Assembly has passed to the second reading stage a Bill for the repeal and re-enactment of the law governing the organization, composition, finance, and responsibilities of local government councils in Nasarawa State, 2024, and other connected issues.
The House stated that the bill’s passage would foster grassroots development throughout the State, despite lawmakers’ disagreement regarding the abolition of the Ministry for Local Government, LG Pension Bureau, LG Service Commission, and related agencies involved in local government administration.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau announced the passage of the bill into second reading after the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Suleiman Azara, read the substance of the Bill during the House proceedings today in Lafia.
Speaker Jatau said that the bill, if finally passed and assented to, Local Governments would have full powers to generate and spend their money without the interference of the state government.
According to him, His Excellency, Engr. A A Sule has sent this bill as a result of Supreme Court Judgement that granted full autonomy to the local government areas in the country.
” First and foremost, I want to commend His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu and His Excellency, Engr. A A Sule for taking bold steps on the autonomy of the local government.
” As this bill if passed and assented to will promote grassroots development in the state.
” Our people will feel the impact of this bill, if finally passed into law as there will be execution of more people’s oriented projects at the grassroots” he said.
He said that local government areas would experience speedy development and there would be improved standard of living at the grassroots.
The Speaker committed the bill to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to work on it and report back to the House on 22nd Oct, 2024.
Speaker Jatau also directed the committee to subject the bill to public hearing for stakeholders inputs.
On his part, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sulaiman Yakubu Azara while giving the substance of the bill said that it would give more powers to the local government chairmen to function effectively for grassroots development.
” This bill was as a result of Supreme Court Judgement that granted full autonomy to the third tiers of government in the country.
” So this bill was brought by the government for us to do the needful as His Excellency, Gov. Abdullahi Sule is a man of integrity and will not do anything that will tarnish his name” he said.
He called on his colleagues to support the bill to scale second reading.
Alao contributing, Hon. Jacob Kudu, Hon. Solomon Akwashiki, Hon. Daniel Ogazi, Hon. Abel Bala, Hon. Larry Ven-Bawa, Hon. Musa Ibrahim Abubakar, Hon. Dr Peter Ibrahim Akwe, Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, Hon. Barr Esson Mairiga, Hon. Hudu A Hudu, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad and Rt. Hon. Mohammed Adamu Oyanki, the Deputy Speaker of the House all supported the bill to scale second reading.
The assemblymen appreciated President Tinubu, Gov. Sule and Speaker Jatau for the bold steps they have taken to ensure grassroots development through the bill on autonomy.
They said that the bill, if passed into law would create room for job opportunities and there would be speedy development in the society especially at the grassroots.
They also said that the bill would give Local Government executives the power to execute capital projects and rights to employ just as they emphasized the need also for full legislative powers and independence at the grassroots level.
The lawmakers were however divided over suggestions that Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, LG Service Commission, LG Pension Bureau among other agencies that have connection with the local government should be scrapped.
They were quick to agreed that whatever the amendment will be they will ensure that the Supreme Court Judgement components should not be tempered with and the position of the current development areas and the interest of the entire citizens most also be put into consideration.
The issue of the tenure of the local government chairmen were also put into consideration.
Earlier, Hon. Sulaiman Yakubu Azara, the Majority Leader of the House moved a motion for the bill to scale second reading.
Hon. Luka Iliya Zhekaba, the Minority Leader of the House seconded the motion.
The House unanimously passed the bill into second reading.
