News Editor
By David Odama
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, on Monday conducted Public hearing on a Bill for a Law to Repeal and Re-enact the Establishment, Structure, Composition, Finance and administration of Local Government System in Nasarawa State 2024 and Other Matters Connected Thereto.
The Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau while declaring the public hearing open in Lafia, said that the bill if passed and assented into law, would boost grassroot development in the State.
This is even as the Ministry for LG advocates it’s retainership just as Emir of Lafia calls for direct deduction of 5% of gross income while Prof. of political science made a case for return of Development Areas to their parent LGAs.
“The Assembly was in receipt of a Bill for a Law to Repeal and Re-enact the Establishment, Structure, Composition, Finance and Function of Local Government System in Nasarawa State. This is to conform with the Supreme Court Judgement granting local government autonomy in the country.
” His Excellency, Gov. Abdullahi Sule as a respecter of the rule of law has done the right thing by sending the bill to the House. What we want is to ensure speedy development at the grassroots level” the Speaker said.
While assuring the people of the state of the assembly readiness to work with the inputs provided by the stakeholders on the amendment bill, RT Hon Danladi Jatau expressed optimism that the house would get maximum inputs from the Stakeholders.
” We believe we will get inputs that is expected of us and I strongly believe that at the end of the day, we will come up with clean bill that will be in conformity with Supreme Court Judgement” he added.
On his part, Chairman, House Committee on LG , Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs,. Hon Musa Abubakar Ibrahim said that the public hearing was organized in order to get stakeholders inputs on the LG amendment bill sent to the House by Gov. Sule.
He said that the bill, if passed and assented to would improve on the standard of people at the grassroots.
” The proposed amendment sent to the House was as a result of the Supreme Court Judgement granting local government autonomy in the country. What we are doing is to amend the local government law to be in conformity with the Supreme Court Judgement and to strengthen the local government to ensure that Chairmen carry out their activities effectively”, the lawmaker stated.
Hon. Musa, who represents Doma South constituency said that the committee has received memos from the State Traditional Council, Ministry for LG, State Pension Bureau, LG Service Commission among other bodies, groups and individuals.
” We have received all intentions from State Traditional Council, Ministry for LG, State Pension Bureau, LG Service Commission among others. We will sit down and look at their presentations and memos carefully and come out with a clean bill to that effect” he said.
The Emir of Lafia Retired Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad while presenting Traditional Council position before the assembly, appreciated the Supreme Court for granting local government autonomy in order to boost grassroots development in the country.
He advocated for direct allocation of 5% Gross Income from the federation account to traditional institution.
” We are happy with the Supreme Court Judgement granting local government autonomy. Our concern as an institution of government are those things that affect us directly and our people” the monarch said.
The Emir of Lafia commended the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau and members of the 7th Assembly for the wonderful job they are doing.
” We are impressed with the performance of the House under Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau and the lawmakers. Thank you for the good work you are doing. Keep it up” the Emir said.
On his part, the Commissioner for Ministry for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Idris Umar Idris while presenting the Ministry Memo called for the retainer ship of the Ministry in spite of the Supreme Court Judgement in order to sustain the achievements recorded by the ministry adding that the Apex Court Judgement does not abolish the ministry as a result of administrative works but completely abolished finances” he said.
On their parts, Barr. Sani Bawa, Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Suleiman Nagogo, Director General, State Pension Bureau and Prof. Musa Yusha’u Dalhatu of Federal University of Lafia, all supported Local Government autonomy.
The Chairman, Local Government Service Commission called for direct deduction of one per cent Gross Income from LG account for man power development.
The Director General of Pension Bureau advocated for upward review for local government pension from statutory allocation of the third tiers of government.
Prof. Musa Yusha’u of the Federal University of Lafia also urged the committee to take a look at the laws that created development areas and possible return them to their parents LGs for effective service delivery.
They all make various inputs in respect to the bill just as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on LG Hon. Hajarat Danyaro Ibrahim appreciated all for their presence and contributions assuring that the House will look into them and do the needful.
