Osun Assembly Amends LG Administration Law

Osun State House of Assembly has  approved an executive bill for the amendment to the State Local Government Administration Amendment Law No 5, seeking the reduction in number of caretaker management committee.

The bill, as passed by the parliament on Thursday, has sought the reduction in number of management committee in the Local Government, Local Council Development Authority and Area Council from ten to not more than five.

The passage of the amendment followed its first, second and third reading through a motion by the leaders of the house, Honourable Timothy Owoeye at the plenary on Thursday

The original amendment law, being re-amended had empowered the governor to appoint caretaker management committee of five persons to administer the council pending the election of democratically elected management.

Announcing the passage of the amendment which reduces the numbe to five, the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam said, the passage of the bill would guaranteed reduction in the cost of governance in the local councils.

He said, according to the bill, management committee would be headed by Executive Secretary and the management would administer the council for a period of six months.

Noting that it has become impossible to conduct election into the councils now due to the economic recession, Salaam said, the new amendment would enable the governor to appoint caretaker management into the council.

According to him, by the passage of the bill, the governor could go-ahead to appoint the management committee to administer the councils after assenting to the bill.

Describing the appointment of caretaker committees to the councils as abberation and not in tandem with democratic system, he said, it was the economic situation that has forced the state to resolve to the option.

He expressed optimism that by 2017, the state government would have the wherewithal to conduct council polls.