The Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi has charged, State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) to hasten the process of local government elections in the state.
He gave the charge after Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Mohammed Alkali raised the issue under matters of Public interest during the House Proceedings in Lafia on Wednesday.
“Elections at the grassroot is very necessary as the third tier of government, hence, the need to have elected officials to pilot the affairs of our people.
“Based on this reason, we own it a duty to remind NASIEC to haste the process of conduct of local government election.
“The resolution of the House is that; the House is drawing the attention of the state government particularly, NASIEC to commence the process of conducting local government election as the tenure of the present elected local government officials is gradually coming to an end.
During his submission at the proceeding, Chairman House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Mohammed Alkali (APC- Lafia North), drew the attention of his colleagues to the Constitutional provision which provides for democratically elected leaders in the local government council, noting that anything short of.tje provision is unconstitutional.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended, in section 7(1) guarantees a democratically elected Local Government Council as well as mandated every state of the federation to ensure their existence under the law which provided for the establishment, structure, composition, finance, and functions of such councils.
“It is in view of this, that I am drawing the attention of the state government and NASIEC to fast track the process of conducting election at the local government level as the tenure of the present elected local government officials will come to an end by May 2021, ” he said.
Hon Daniel Ogazi (APC- Kokona East), the Deputy Majority Leader of the House seconded the motion on the need for NASIEC to fast track the process of conducting local government poll in the state.
Other House members unanimously supported the motion for the conduct of the local government election.
Hon. Danladi Jatau (PDP-Kokona West), the Minority Leader of the House also supported the move.
The minority leader, however, stressed the need for free, fair, and transparent Local government election in the state.
