Ekiti lawmakers oppose bill on removal of council chiefs
From Ifedayo Sayo,
Ado Ekiti
E KITI State lawmakers yesterday opposed the proposed amendment to the state local government bill, which would allow the Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose to remove any erring council chairman or councillor.
Debating the bill, which had been criticised as being against the 1999 Constitution, Mr. Tope Ademiluyi (PDP Ekiti West 1) said the Ekiti Local Government Bill 2000 had already empowered the governor to suspend any erring council chairman after obtaining two third majority approval of the Assembly.
He said that the governor should not be vested with another sweeping power on the council chairmen, adding that instead the assembly should rather replace the word "removal" with "suspension" in the interest of justice.
A clause in the bill reads: "Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 23 of the principal law, the governor may remove from office the chairman of any local government for misconduct.
"The Governor shall, however, within two weeks from the date of removal of the chairman from office forward to the House of Assembly reasons for such removal for approval or otherwise."
But Ademiluyi stressed that the governor should only be invested with the power to suspend any council chairman found guilty of misconduct for a period of three months.
He added that the state governor should also notify the state assembly of such decision after which the assembly can either approve or reject such decision.
Speaking in the same vein, the Minority Leader, Mr. Kola Pakoyesi argued that the removal clause should be expunged from the bill in the interest of justice and fair play.
Mr. Oluyemi Olatunji (PDP Moba1) queried why the governor should be empowered to unilaterally sack an elected council chief before seeking the approval of the assembly. He said "we represent the people of Ekiti State and all eyes are watching us. Removal is too much a penalty for any erring council chairman.
The Majority Leader, Mr. Babade Kayode, however, said it would not be appropriate to ask the governor to seek the approval of the assembly before the suspension of council chairman who run foul of his oath of office.
Sule Longe said it was only appropriate to allow the governor to suspend erring council chairman and later refer to the assembly for approval through simple majority vote.
The Speaker, Mr. Friday Aderemi later referred the bill to the Ad-hoc Committee of the assembly headed by Mr. Tunji Akinyele, the deputy majority leader.
Other members of the committee are Segun Onreye, Sule Longe, Bode Adewole and Tola Esan.
