The current elected chairmen of Local Government Areas in Nasarawa State were sworn-in on 28 May 2018. What has remained speculative amongst the citizenry is for how many years tenure? This situation is not new and not surprising because of the confusion surrounding LGAs ranging from the unresolved constitutional lacunas on the status of LGAs as the third-tier of our federal structure to their autonomy.
Local governments in the state are governed by the Nasarawa State Local Government (Amendment) Law which is in its second amend or thereabout cited as “A LAW TO AMEND THE LAW FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, STRUCTURE COMPOSITION, FINANCE AND FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN NASARAWA STATE (SECOND AMENDMENT) 2011.
Before 2011, the tenure of elected LG councils was 3 years but amended to 2 years. There was a reported amendment of this law by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to change the tenure again to 3 years at the twilight of the last administration, but whether this bill was signed into law or not has remained cloudy. Many believed it was not signed and held on that the tenure of Local Government Councils remained 2 years.
Recently, as May 28, 2020 approached, there was hushed agitation for the termination of the tenure of LG Councils as most people held on to their speculation that the tenure was 2 years. In fact, there were allegations at some points that there was high-wired lobby by the current chairmen to be allowed to continue.
This is democracy and something as important as tenure should not be left to speculation. What is therefore the exact position of the law? Any extension beyond the provision of the law makes the LG councils illegitimate while any truncation before the end of their tenure should not be contemplated. Perhaps the Attorney General of the State and the Nasarawa State House of Assembly needs to clear the air. The people need to know.
May Nasarawa State succeed!