The Plateau State House of Assembly yesterday extended the tenure of the management committees of the 17 local government councils of the state by two months against Governor Simon Bako Lalong’s request for a six-month extension.
Daily Trust reports that Governor Lalong had in July 2015 dissolved the elected local government structures and replaced them by a management committee council which the House approved for a period of three months.
The governor had sought two months extension in October after the first tenure elapsed which was followed by yesterday’s request for additional six months before the expiration of the December deadline.
A communication from the Governor which was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Peter Azi explained that the requested extension was to enable the state government set in motion modalities for the conduct of elections.
However, Minority leader and Member representing Riyom, Daniel Dem (PDP) in a motion described the local government structures as illegal and urged the House to grant approval for two months instead of the six months with effect from January 1st 2016.
Deputy Speaker Yusuf Gagdi (PDP) while toeing the line of the minority leader said some of the local government structures have not performed as expected and urged that two months’ extension be granted while the performance of the councils are being reviewed.
The motion was seconded by the majority leader and member representing Shendam, Henry Hynkop (APC), and the speaker adopted the motion.
