Sokoto Assembly give nod to local government autonomy, rejects independent candidature

 

 

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The Sokoto State House of Assembly has on Tuesday rejected the alteration of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeriato provide for independent candidature in election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rejection followed the consideration of a report of the House Ad-hoc Committee on the adoption of the alteration of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

Presenting the report, the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Garba Bello (APC- Yabo), said that the committee conducted town hall meetings that covered the three senatorial zones of the state.

He said that all relevant stakeholders, local government area, politicians development partners, women groups and unions among others were invited to give their input on the bills.

Mr. Bello said, “The committee observed that alteration bill to abrogate the state joint local government accounts and empower each local government, to maintain its own special account had the support of the 23 local governments in the state.

The deputy chairman also said the 23 local governments supported the four other alterations, including the strengthening of local government administration in Nigeria and to change the name of Nigeria Police Force to ‘Nigeria Police’.

He said the belief of the local governments was that the alteration would reflect the core mandate of the institutions of providing civil service.

According to him, the majority of the local governments in the state also support “Alteration to provide for the procedure for passing a Constitution alteration bill.

In such circumstance, he said, “the president withholds assent and to specify the period within with the president or governor presents the Appropriation bill before the Assembly.

“But the alteration to provide for independent candidature in election was rejected by the “As such, the committee recommended that Assembly should accept the five alterations and reject the alteration to provide for independent candidature in election, based on the wishes of the citizens,” Mr. Bello said.

The Deputy Speaker, Abubabar Magaji, who presided over the plenary put the motion into vote and was accepted by the majority of the members.

(NAN)