NOCSON Condemns Suspension Of Edo LG Council Chairmen
…jettison politics and face governance for the progress of Edo state…
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Network of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (NOCSON), today condemned in the strongest terms the suspension of 18 Local Government Council Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the Edo State by the State House of Assembly, following the directive of the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Recalled The9JaTREND earlier report that the State of Assembly has passed a resolution suspending chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18local government councils of the state for two months and mandated leaders of the legislative arms to take over the leadership of their respective councils.
In a statement signed by Comrade Ogbidi Emmanuel, President and Comrade Bevy Efe, Director, Media & Publicity of the organization made available to newsmen in Benin stated that the Executive must understand that beyond politics, the need for effective governance at the grassroots that bring developments to our rural communities is very key in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
According to them, “The Local Government is not an appendage of the state, but the third tier of government in our federal system of which they must be given the free hand to dispense governance within their domain while they must be accountable to the people.
“Edo State House of Assembly must be reminded that in democracy, their role is not to do the biding of the Executive Governor but of the people that voted them into office. They must be able to demonstrate the fact that they are not a rubber stamped house who are tired to the apron strings of the Executive arm of government.
Going further, NOCSON said, “The question is, where is the principles of fair hearing? In the wisdom of the honourable members, they are supposed to check the excesses of the executive rather than stamping every request of the governor, including the ones capable of throwing the state into crisis both political, socially and economically. The house upon receipt of the governor’s request, owes the people a duty to invite the chairmen for further briefing and balance of issues.
“We must be reminded that the LGAs in Nigeria are autonomous both in their finance and administration of governance at the grass root.”
NOCSON further request the EDHA to revisit their earlier decision of suspending the LGA chairmen and vice chairmen for two months and do the needful of reinstating them for the smooth running of the most important tier of government to the people. This they said will bring peace and restore the confidence of Edo people on the honourable members currently enjoying the endorsement of the people just like the chairmen and the governor except otherwise retrieved either by a democratic cum legal process.
