To comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy, Nasarawa State Government has launched an initiative to restructure its Local Government System.
To facilitate this objective, the State Government submitted an Executive Bill to the State House of Assembly, requesting amendments to the Local Government Law within the State.
Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, announced this on Monday during the sitting in Lafia, the state capital, following the first reading of the bill’s title by House Leader Hon. Suleiman Yakubu Azara, seconded by Minority Leader Hon. Luka Iliya Zhekaba.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, stated that the Executive Bill aims to amend the existing Local Government law in the State to align with the Supreme Court’s judgement on financial autonomy for the third tier of government in the country.
“This is a Bill for a Law to Repeal and Re-enact the Establishment, Structure, Composition, Finance and Function of Local Government System in Nasarawa State, 2024 and Other Matters Connected Thereto” first reading.
The Speaker slated Wednesday, 16th October 2024, for the second reading of the bill.
As previously noted, the Supreme Court rendered a pivotal decision on July 11, 2024, affirming the financial independence of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Councils, which is anticipated to streamline governance at the local level.
Following the apex court ruling, state governors have taken measures to review, restructure, and re-enact local government laws.
This could be why the Nasarawa State Government forwarded an Executive Bill to the State House of Assembly.
Speaking to the Assembly press corps following the day’s proceedings, Hon. Jonah Ali Dizaho, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, stated that the state government seeks to revise local government laws to align with contemporary issues and ground realities, specifically granting financial autonomy to Local Government Areas within the state.
“The amendment of the LG law will among other things abolished the existing joint accounts as well as abolished the State Ministry For Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs” He said.
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has scheduled the local government amendment bill for its second reading on 16 October 2024, at which point the bill’s key amendments and revisions will be presented.
