By Michael Agbaji
Senate on Friday called the federal government to withhold the allocation of the local government council not Democratically elected by people.
In motion of urgent important by senator Patrick Abba moro on the need to halt the erosion of democracy, the dissolution of elected council in Benue state.
According to Moro, such an arrangement is alien to the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He further averred that, it is the Constitutional responsibility of every state to ensure the existence of Local Government Councils.
Drawing his colleague’s attention to the subsisting court rulings ,directing the Governor , the House of Assembly and their agents and privies not to tamper with the tenure of the elected Councils, he was of the opinion that hence the government have not appealed the judgement, it has no legal standing to dissolve the elected Councils .
Consequently, he urged the Senate to condemned in strong terms the arbitrary dissolution of democratically elected Local Government Councils in Benue and other states of the Federation.
Also to urge the governor of Benue State to adhere to his oath of office to obey the rule of law and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The governor of Benue should review the dissolution of the elected Councils and constitution of caretaker committees and reinstate the Elected Council.
To urge the Federal Government to withhold Statutory Allocations to the Local Government Councils not democratically elected.
Consequently, the motion was taken in toto.The undemocratic dissolution of elected councils in Benue State.
The Senator who represents Benue South in the Red Chamber, Patrick Abba Moro has decried the undemocratic conduct of Benue State government where elected Councils officials have been replaced with Caretaker Committees.
According to Moro, such an arrangement is alien to the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He further averred that, it is the Constitutional responsibility of every state to ensure the existence of Local Government Councils.
Drawing his colleague’s attention to the subsisting court rullings ,directing the Governor , the House of Assembly and their agents and privies not to tamper with the tenure of the elected Councils, he was of the opinion that hence the government have not appealed the judgement, it has no legal standing to dissolve the elected Councils .
Consequently, he urged the Senate to condemned in strong terms the arbitrary dissolution of democratically elected Local Government Councils in Benue and other states of the Federation.
Also to urge the governor of Benue State to adhere to his oath of office to obey the rule of law and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The governor of Benue should review the dissolution of the elected Councils and constitution of caretaker committees and reinstate the Elected Council.
To urge the Federal Government to withhold Statutory Allocations to the Local Government Councils not democratically elected.
Consequently, the motion was taken in toto.
