Aiyedatiwa asks LGAs, LCDAs transition committees to take over despite s’court verdict

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo, has directed members of the transition committees for the 18 LGAs and 33 local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state to assume office.

On July 11, the supreme court granted the federal government’s prayers seeking direct disbursement of funds from the federation account to the LGA, bypassing the state government.

The court criticised the practice of states creating and controlling caretaker committees, reiterating that local government councils should be democratically elected as stipulated by the constitution.

In spite of the judgment, Aiyedatiwa directed the transition committees to take over with immediate effect.

Kayode Ajulo, Ondo’s attorney general and commissioner for justice, said the governor exercised his constitutional right with the appointment of transition committees for the LGAs and LCDAs.

Amidu Takuro, the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, said Ondo is not the only state affected by the apex court verdict, adding that the LGA election cannot be conducted in a hurry.

“No fewer than 21 states are affected, and this is not peculiar to Ondo State alone. The governors will be meeting in Abuja during the week, and there is still room for negotiations; there is no need for a rush,” Takuro said.

“Judgment does not take immediate effect; even at that, we cannot conduct local government elections immediately. There are procedures for election, so we will study the judgment.

“Again, the federal government will not want to punish the local government workers by withholding their salaries or getting their allocation to them, though we have no option than to concur with the judgment, but it cannot be immediately.”

On July 10, the Ondo government released a list of members of the transition committees for the 18 LGAs and 33 LCDAs.