The Local Government Amendment Law 2013 was not assented to by the governor for over three months after being sent to him by the assembly. Rather, the governor wrote to inform the House of the financial implications of having to hold local government elections every year.
But members took back the bill, and using a two-thirds majority, passed it into law at a plenary which lasted about two hours. This followed a motion by the Majority Leader, Godiya Akwashiki (PDP Nasarawa-Eggon West) who stressed that since it took the governor more than three months to sign the bill into law, far beyond the 30 days allowed by the constitution, the assembly was left with no option than to override the executive and to pass the bill into law.
Members, including Mohammed Baba Ibaku (PDP, Udege/Loko), Francis Orogu (PDP, Keana), Mohammed Muluku (PDP, Nasarawa-Eggon-East), and Anthony Obande (PDP, Doma-South), took turns to call for the passage of the law. But Umaru Tanko Tunga (APC Awe North) cautioned both the executive and legislative arms of government against taking decisions capable of causing more hardships for the people.
“The people at the grassroots are the meal tickets of both the executive and legislature and as such we should be careful not to subject them to further hardships,” he said.
Through a voice vote, Speaker Ahmed Musa Mohammed pronounced the passage of the bill into law, bringing an end to several months of crisis over the tenure of elected council officials in the state.