Reps consider bill seeking the removal of LGs from the 1999 Constitution

The Federal House of Representatives is at the verge of commencing with a debate on the general principle of a bill which seeks to remove Local Governments from the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Sponsored by Hon Solomon Bob, the bill is awaiting second reading.

According to the proposed bill which scaled through the first reading, seen exclusively by Nigerian Tribune, the sponsor seeks to empower State House of Assembly of each of the 36 States of the federation to create Local Government as deemed fit.

The proponent of the bill, seeks to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, 2004 for the removal of Local Government as a tier of Government constitutionally recognized and funded by the Federal Government.

The bill further seeks to amend section 3 of the Principal Act by adding to the existing subsection (2) thereof the following provisions “or as may be subsequently created by a relevant law of a State Assembly.

He further seeks the deletion of subsection 6, Section 7, Section 8 sub-paragraph (iii) of ‘a’ subsection 1 thereof and deleting sub-paragraph (iii) of paragraph (a) of subsection 2 thereof, as well as subsection 3 and 4.

In the same vein, he proposed the alteration of section 162(3) of the Principal Act by deleting the words “and the Local Government Councils in each State” appearing between the words ‘Governments’ and ‘in line three of subsection 3 thereof.

Also, he proposed the deletion of subsections 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Section 162(3) of the Principal Act.