Senate asks FG to withhold allocations to LGAs run by caretaker committees

The senate has asked the federal government to stop statutory monetary allocation to LGAs under the leadership of caretaker committees.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Abba Moro, minority leader and senator representing Benue south.

Moro, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, said Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, dissolved all the local government councils in the state and appointed caretaker committees.

“Aware that section (1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees a system of local government by democratically elected councils,” he said.

“Also aware that it is the constitutional responsibility of every state to ensure the existence of local government councils by law.

“Further aware that there are subsisting court rulings directing the governor, the house of assembly, their agents, privies etc not to tamper with the tenure of the elected councils.”

Thereafter, the upper legislative chamber condemned the governor’s “arbitrary” dissolution of the LG executive councils.

The senate urged the governor of Benue to adhere to his oath of office and obey the rule of law as well as defend the country’s constitution.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to vote and the lawmakers voted in its support.

Akpabio directed the clerk of the senate to communicate the resolution to the appropriate authorities.

He said there should be measures put in place to ensure that governors do not have “overlapping powers”.