The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has called on the leadership of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to uphold the sanctity of the constitution and rule of law.
ALGON said it was constrained to make the call following the sack of elected local government chairmen in Oyo, Kwara and Imo states.
ALGON President Kolade Alabi, in a statement yesterday, expressed dismay that some governors still viewed local governments as appendages of their office, not minding that the chairmen were elected like the governors for a stipulated period of years as passed by the Houses of Assembly.
“Despite the provisions of Section 7 (l) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as it relates to the existence, administration and control of local government councils in Nigeria, the flagrant disregard for the constitution is baffling. The action is not only hindering the development at the grassroots expected to be put in place by the councils; it is also crippling the third tier of government,” he said.
He described the Supreme Court ruling on the illegality of sacking elected council chairmen as a “landmark.”
“The Supreme Court ruling simply overruled the common practice by some governors in dissolving elected local government council chairmen. Such action is now deem unconstitutional null and void,” he said.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the governors to order and the Inspector-General of Police to ensure normalcy returns to the councils.
“We equally urged the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to prevail on their members-governor to allow the sacked council chairman back to their office to complete their tenure.
“Now that the Supreme Court has put to rest the arbitrary abuse and the constitutional breach, ALGON calls on all and sundry to join forces with us to ensure sustainability and development of the grassroots. With this development, the local governments will be better positioned to contribute in achieving President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years,” Alabi said.
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