Nasarawa Assembly trains LG Councilors on Legislative Practice and Procedure

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has urged chairmen and councilors of the 13 local government areas of the state to emulate executive and legislative good working relationships at the state level for development to thrive at the grassroots in the state.

Gov. Sule made the call while declaring open a Three- Day Workshop with the theme ” Legislative Practice and Procedure” for Local Government Legislative Councils today in Lafia.

It would be reported that the training, Workshop is been organized by Nasarawa State House of Assembly in partnership with the Association of Local Government of Nigeria ( ALGON), Nasarawa State, and Multiventures Resources Limited also had all the Clerks, Deputy Clerks, and Sargent-At- Arms of the 13 Local Government Councils of the State.

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The Governor said that a robust relationship between the Chairmen and local government legislative arms will bring speedy development and ensure peace in the local government areas.

He urged the legislatures to maintain cordial working relationships with their chairmen for speedy development at the grassroots.

” I am calling on you to maintain the same relationship with your executive arms as the way we ( Executive) and legislative are maintaining at the state level.

” It is very important for you to work together, what your chairmen are doing you should know and what you are doing, they should know,” he said.

The governor commended the Nasarawa State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi for the initiative and for supporting his administration to succeed.

He has called on the councilors to take the workshop with seriousness in their interest and for the benefit of the people at the grassroots noting that the LGAs in the State are enjoying full autonomy as according to him, he did not interfere with their funds.

In his speech, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi thanked the Governor for his zeal on grassroots development saying the workshop was the first of its kind and underscored its benefit to the participants, the local administrations, and the State at large.

“First and foremost, I want to commend Gov. Abdullahi Sule for approving the workshop, as it will go a long way in boosting legislative practice and procedure at the grassroots.

“The Local Government system is supposed to be the nearest Government to the people who will provide an opportunity for the grassroots whether, in rural or semi-urban areas to determine their destiny politically, economically and socially too.

” In making and executing decisions that affect their everyday lives. In simple terms, to augment the efforts of both the Federal and the State Governments in terms of provision of social amenities.

” For the objectives of the Local Government Councils to be achievable, then we must deliberately build and deepen the capacities of the Legislative and the Executive Arms of the Local Government Council.

” This is because, delivery of Local Government Service in line with the expectations and aspirations of the people at the grassroots, is a collective responsibility of the two Arms of Government.

” Therefore, this workshop for Legislative Councils will be incomplete without a workshop for the Executive Council Members, ” he said.

Balarabe Abdullahi urged the participants to take the workshop seriously in their interest and for the overall development of the state.

The Speaker also thanked the Chairman and members of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, ALGON Nasarawa State, and the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for responding promptly to his directive, which has resulted in this eventful occasion.

On his part, Hon Mohammed Ibrahim Alkali, Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has appreciated Gov. Sule for approving the workshop, adding that the Workshop will go a long way in deepening democracy at the grassroots.

He described Sule as a legislative-friendly Governor, saying that the workshop was the first of its kind in the state.

The chairman has also commended the Speaker for his initiative, describing the workshop as a brainchild of the Speaker.

Alkali also said that the assembly is working hard to ensure permanency in the appointments of Clerks and Deputy Clerks at the Local Government levels to keep the system alive and active even at the expiration of the tenure of elected chairmen.

On his part, Hon Yusuf Aliyu Turaki, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs said that the workshop is one of the major steps in the survival of local government councils in the state.

He said that the workshop would promote a good working relationship between the chairman and councilors in their respective councils.

Hon Aminu Muazu Maifata, the Chairman, Lafia Local Government Council, who is also ALGON Chairman and National Vice Chairman of ALGON assured that the workshop would be of benefit to local government councils and the entire State.

He has assured of their readiness to maintain a good working relationship with the legislative arm in the interest of peace and for the overall development of the state.

In his remarks, Hon Abdulhamid Kwara, the Chief Consultant, Multiventures Resources Ltd said that the workshop was to impart knowledge on the elected councilor on Legislative Practice and Procedures.

He urged both the executive and legislative arms to maintain cordial relationships for development to thrive at the grassroots.

In a vote of thanks, Hon Abdulmalik Mailafiya, Chairman, Nasarawa State Local Government Speakers Forum, and Speaker Obi LG has appreciated Gov. Sule and the Speaker of the House for approving the workshop.

” Mr. Speaker sir, this workshop is a product of your selfless style of leadership.

“We thank you profoundly for extending your fatherly role of the Legislative Arm of the Local Government Councils, which is highly appreciated,” he said.

It would be reported that the workshop featured various paper presentations as well as a question-and-answer session.