*It Will Release Councils From Grips Of Governors-Analysts
The senate has introduced a bill seeking to establish the Local Government Independent Electoral Commission.
Metrobusinessmews.com (MBN) interactions with some political Analysts see the development as a welcome one,noting that the commission, when established will save the elections from the manipulations of the Governors.
”The proposed Commission, when established and if allowed to function, and with the financial autonomy granted by the supreme Court, will bring a lot of development, particularly at the grassroots level,” says an analyst.
To another analyst, ”It’s a welcome development as the Councils May be saved from the grips of some ambitious Governors.”
The bill, which was read for the first time on Thursday, has Sani Musa, senator representing Niger east, as its sponsor.
The proposed legislation was introduced about a week after the supreme court ordered the federal government to pay allocations directly to local government councils from the federation account.
The apex court held that state governments have continued to abuse their powers by retaining and using the funds meant for LGAs.
The apex court also ordered the federal government to withhold allocations of LGAs governed by unelected officials appointed by governors.
“An order that henceforth no state government should be paid monies standing to the credit of the local government councils,” the court said.
“An order for immediate enforcement and compliance with these orders by the state governments and successive governments henceforth.”
The verdict followed a suit filed by the federal government at the supreme court against governors of the 36 states.
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Since the supreme Court, at least 21 states, including, Kwara, Kogi, Bauchi, Kaduna ave affirmed dates for the elections.
The move is seen as a bid to put the states in a good stead to evade any possible hammer in the wake of the July 11 ruling of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy.
While Kwara and Bauchi states have earlier fixed dates for the conduc of council elections, Kogi and Kaduna states, on Tuesday affirmed dates for the conduct of council polls.
While the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission had fixed August 16 for council polls, its counterpart in Kwara announced September 21, while Kogi and Kaduna states fixed October 19 for the conduct of council elections