Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
The President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio, says the Senate is fully in support of the Supreme Court judgement on granting of financial autonomy to the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria.
Akpabio said this, shortly after senate resumed from a closed session over a motion sponsored by Sen.Tony Nwoye, (LP-Anambra).
The motion by Nwoye, was on an alleged attempt by some state governments through their Houses of Assemblies to enact laws to circumvent ruling of the supreme court to grant financial autonomy to local governments.
Akpabio said: “We stand solidly behind the Supreme Court judgement and pronouncement on the local government autonomy.
“We have looked at the motion and saw that some of the prayers would conflict with the existing provisions within the constitution, and we have jointly agreed on two prayers.
“Because we believe strongly that if there is any legacy that this adminstration and indeed the 10th Senate and National Assembly will live behind, it is the legacy of sanitising the local government.
“Also by ensuring that the local government funds are fully utilised for the benefits of rural people,”.
Senate, thereafter, approved the two prayers out of the six prayers advanced by Sen.Tony Nwoye in his motion.
Senate consequently urged all state and local governments to fully comply to the recent Supreme Court judgement on disbursement and utilisation of funds accrued to all local governments in Nigeria.
Senate also pledged to ensure alterations to relevant provisions of the constitution to provide full autonomy to local governments in Nigeria.
Akpabio thanked the lawmakers for all their contributions especially Sen. Tony Nwoye, who brought out the motion on attempt to circumvent the ruling of the supreme court.
“I want to assure you that the national assembly will alter any aspect of our constitution and amend any section of our law to ensure full autonomy for local government administration in Nigeria.”(NAN)www.nannews.ng
KC/MNA
Benue PDP LG Chairmen endorse Utaan to replace Ayu
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Recently elected Local Government Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State have unanimously endorsed the candidature of Engr. Terhide Utaan, as the sole nominee for the replacement of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the national chairman of the party.
Addressing a press conference in Makurdi on Wednesday, the spokesman of the PDP Local Government Chairmen and Chairman of Katsina-Ala local government Mr Terseer Adigo, informed that for the party to rediscover its true identity and take back its pride of place, Engr Utaan was the the best replacement.
According to him, the PDP constitution provides in section 47(6) 2017 as amended, that the replacement for Dr Ayu must come from Benue State to reinforce the great party’s commitment to equity, justice and fairness as the core principles upon which the party stands.
The leader of the group noted that Dr Ayu’s replacement has to come from Benue North West senatorial district and Engr Utaan, who is a good replacement also hails from the same senatorial district with Ayu.
In their contributions, both the PDP Chairman from Okpokwu local Government, Mr Chris Okpabi and Mr Paul Tion, assured of their unalloyed support to Utaan to enable him succeed as the national chairman of the party.
Okpabi particularly said Utaan was the only candidate in the two Senatorial Districts of the state, Benue North East and Benue North West, claiming that they were not aware of any other candidate in addition to Utaan in Tiv land.
