By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Niger state governor, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago have been advised to suspend the planned November, 2025 Local Government Council (LGC) election to allow the incumbent leadership across the 25 LGCs enjoy their full term of four years in office.
Chairman, Human Rights and Judgement Enforcement Advocates, Barrister Alfa Mohammed spoke against the backdrop of the state Governor's approval that LGC election should go ahead contrary to the 2022 Electoral Act which means automatically cutting short the tenure of the council executives.
Speaking on the legal implications of Governor Bago not heeding to wise counsel to avoid running into legal glitches while addressing journalists in Minna, encouraged him to wait until the four years as stipulated in the 2022 Electoral Act elapses before conducting the election.
Alfa said, "To avoid glitches, we want to draw attention of the Governor to the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act which provides that elected local government council executives are entitled to four years tenure".
"The Governor should refrain from dissolving or shortening the tenure of elected council executives from four years tenure granted by the Electoral Act 2022".
Alfa Mohammed also want Governor Bago to stay clear of LGC funds and allow leaders in the third tier of government in the state to manage the flow of funds allocated to them without state government interferences as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He told journalists that the Human Rights and Judgement Enforcement Advocates have launched nationwide campaign to compel state Governors to fully enforce the judgement granting autonomy of LGCs in Nigeria delivered by the Supreme Court on the 11th of July, 2024.
Alfa drew the attention of the Governor that, "By virtue of S163 (3) and (5) of the constitution of Nigeria, 1999, the amount standing to the credit of LGCs from Federation Account should henceforth be distributed and be paid directly to them".
Lamenting the attitude of Governors still holding on to monies meant for the third tier of government, Alfa said it is very unfortunate that barely twelve months after the landmark judgement, how many states are yet to implement the order.
On the issue of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area council, Barrister Alfa said, under the Act, section Section 108 (1) provides the answers stressing that an Area council shall stand dissolved at the expiration of four years from the date when the Chairman took the oath of office or legislative arm of Council was inaugurated.
He challenged the Governor of Imo state and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Senator Hope Uzodinma to prove that APC Governors are aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's poverty eradication efforts by granting total autonomy to LGCs not later than a day before the next Federal Allocation is distributed.
The Human Rights Advocate also told journalists about plans to mobilize the grassroots in solidarity protest with the Nigerian masses if the harsh economic realities does not change before next month, August. NNL
