Niger: Suspend Polls, Uphold Local Council Autonomy, Human Rights Advocates Tell Bago
Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago, has been advised to, as a matter of urgency, suspend the planned November 25th local government election to avoid terminating the tenure of incumbent council executives prematurely.
Similarly, he has been advised to refrain from dissolving or shortening the tenure of elected council executives from the four-year tenure granted by the Electoral Act 2022.
Chairman Human Rights and Judgement Enforcement Advocates, Barrister Mohammed Alfa, advised while addressing newsmen in Minna, the Niger state capital.
Barrister Mohammed Alfa also called on the state governors to allow the free flow of funds allocated to local government councils without interference, as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
He said they have launched a nationwide campaign to cause the state Governors to fully enforce the judgement granting autonomy of Local Governments Councils in Nigeria delivered by Supreme Court on the 11th July 2024.
According to him by virtue of S163(3) and (5) of the constitution of Nigeria, 1999, the amount standing to the credit of Local Government Councils from Federation Account should henceforth be distributed and paid directly to them.
Barrister Mohammed Alfa, however, lamented that twelve month after the landmark judgement, how many states are implementing the order.
On the issue of FCT Area council he said under the Act, section Section 108 (1) provides the answer 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.
Barrister Mohammed Alfa also challenged the Chairman Nigerian Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to prove that APC governors are aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s poverty eradication efforts by effecting total autonomy to local councils not later than a day before the next federal allocation is distributed.
He, however, added that they plan to lead a grassroot protest in solidarity with the masses at the grassroot if situation does not change before August 25th.
