The indigenous inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have sought the support of the National Assembly (NASS) on their quest for the establishment of a mayoralty for the territory.
Chief Lazarus Nyaholo, the Secretary of Garki Traditional Council, made the call at a news conference organised in collaboration with the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO).
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Nyaholo said there were two areas of importance to the group; “Section 303 on ‘Establishment of the Office of Mayor of FCT- Abuja.
“There shall be for the Federal Capital Territory a mayor who shall be the chief executive of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
“Sections 297 to 307 to be replaced by Establishment of a Mayoralty for FCT with an elected Mayor and Mayoral Assembly.
“Section 147(1) deals with appointment into the Federal Executive Council (that is ministers). The clause that provides for appointment of “ministers at least one each from the 36 states of the federation” is to be amended to add “and the FCT.”
Nyaholo said by this provision, the people of the FCT would have representation in the Federal Executive Council.
“Let me however make it very clear that we are not asking for an original inhabitant of FCT to be appointed as a minister of FCT but a member of the Federal Executive Council who can also be posted to any ministry to serve.
“If the Mayoral Council is established, the office of the FCT Minister will automatically cease to exist.
“In the light of the foregoing, we appeal to all the members of the National Assembly to vote yes for the amendment of these sections of the constitution.”
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