…. Kogi Has Not Rejected Proposal for LG Autonomy- Speaker
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi State House of Assembly has passed a vote of confidence on Governor Yahaya Bello, his Deputy, Elder Simon Achuba for their developmental strides in the state in the last two years.
This was done via a motion sponsored by the member representing Ajaokuta State Constituency and Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Bello Abdullahi Balogun.
According to him, it has become necessary for him to draw the attention of the sixth assembly to the giant strides of Governor Yahaya Bello and the new direction team across the length and breadth of the state in the last two years, pointing out that much has been achieved under the current administration.
He said Governor has performed excellently well in his two years in office and kudos should be given to the Governor on areas of security, infrastructural development, improved health service, educational development and economic growth of the State.
He prayed that a letter of commendation should be written and delivered to the governor “for a job well done” in the state, urging him to continue his good work undeterred by detractors or obstacles.
Supporting the motion, the member representing Dekina II, Okura State Constituency and Deputy Speaker, Hassan Abdullahi, said the vote of confidence and commendation letter to the Executive Governor and his Deputy is long overdue.
Most of the members who spoke on the motion confirmed one good deed or the other in terms of projects the Governor has executed in their various constituencies, noting that the new direction has really worked for the people of Kogi state, hence the need for the vote of confidence.
Other members who spoke on the motion include Ahmed Mohammed representing Ankpa I State Constituency and Deputy Majority Leader, Abdulkareem Kekere, Okehi State Constituency, Idris Ndakwo State Constituency Lokoja 2, Victor Omofaiye, Ijumu State Constituency, John Abba State Constituency Ibaji, Moses Ododo, Dekina Biradu State Constituency and Musa Jimoh of Yagba East; who in their various contributions supported the motion, stressing that it will encourage the Governor to do more for the State.
Meanwhile the Speaker, Prince Matthew Kolawole has clarified that the House has not rejected the proposal for Local Government Autonomy sent to it from the National Assembly for consideration.
The Speaker made the position of the house known on the issue when a delegation from the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) led by its National President, Ibrahim Khaleel paid him a courtesy visit in Lokoja recently.
Kolawole explained that the decision to pend the issue was as a result of a petition from the Nigeria Union of Teachers against the proposal, clarifying that the house committee on Local Government has been mandated to look into the matter and will soon conduct public hearing on the autonomy proposal.
The Speaker also clarified that the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello had never interfered on the issue, stressing that members of the house were fully in support of the autonomy and assured that the House will take a position after the public hearing.
Earlier, the National President of NULGE, Ibrahim Khaleel had informed the Speaker that they were in his office to deliberate with him on the way forward on the burning LG autonomy in order to ensure that it was not swept under the carpet.
The NULGE President advised that the issue of LG Autonomy should not be compromised in view of its benefits to the socio-economic and political lives of the people.
He said the country could only be a balanced nation when the LG autonomy was finally achieved at the end of the day.
Khaleel described Local Government as cardinal in all inclusive governance expressing concern that rural dwellers were presently disconnected from governance due to non-functionability of the system.
In a remark the state president of NULGE, Tade Adeyemi said only autonomous Local Government Councils could guarantee the much desired peace in the country.
