Aiyedatiwa suspends LG caretaker chairpersons

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the governor of Ondo, has suspended the chairpersons of caretaker committees of the 18 LGAs and the newly created 33 local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state.

According to a memo by the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, Aiyedatiwa directed heads of LGAs/LCDAs administration in each of the councils to assume responsibility pending the resolution of a subsisting legal matter.

BACKGROUND

In November 2023, an Ondo state high court in Akure restrained the government from inaugurating caretaker committees for 33 LCDAs and the 18 LGAs of the state.

The court issued the restraining order while granting a prayer for interlocutory injunction by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP had argued that the caretaker committee is illegal and that its members  were not democratically elected.

The caretaker chairpersons were appointed during the administration of late Rotimi Akeredolu, the immediate former governor of Ondo.

THE GOVERNOR’S DIRECTIVE

Aiyedatiwa also directed that properties and assets of the councils with the suspended chairpersons should be retrieved.

“It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that despite the suspension of all recently appointed Caretaker Committee members for Local Government (LGAS) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State by a Court of competent jurisdiction, some individuals in these former positions are still parading themselves in that posts,” the memo reads.

“Consequently, I have been directed to request the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) in all the LGAs/LCDAs to immediately assume responsibility as head of their respective Local Government Areas/ LCDAs in acting capacity pending the resolution of all Legal matters relating to this subject.”