Niger lawmaker tasks Gov. Bello on Autonomy of LGC .
Yahaya Zakka Minna
Niger State Government has been advised to as a matter of urgency, discontinue the partial autonomy of the Local Government Councils in the state.
The advice was given by the Member representing Bida South Constituency in the Niger State House of Assembly, Engr. Mohammed Alhaji Haruna, during the house plenary today.
Hon Mohammed Alhaji Haruna who was speaking under the Matter of Urgent Public Importance of the House rules, described the local government partial autonomy as illegal.
He argued that the partial autonomy that was being operated by the Executive Arm of the state, without any input from the State House Assembly, has brought hardship to a lot of local government employees as many were unable to receive their salaries, and some who were lucky to receive theirs were paid on percentage, particularly the primary school teachers who he said even deserve more. The legislature wondered how someone earning about N30, 000 with lot of debts and bank loans, would be able to cope with seven or eight thousand as salary.
“As at July, 2021, only 13 local government councils were able to pay 100% of staff salaries.
In August 2021, 15 local government councils meet up 100% payment of staff salaries,” the Law maker stated.
Hon. Haruna however raised a motion and was seconded by Hon Malik Madaki Bosso, representing Bosso constituency, that the partial autonomy without any legal backing was doing more harm to the administration of local governments in the state and should be jettisoned immediately.
He further mentioned that it took the intervention of some stakeholders in Bida to prevail on the local government staff that embarked on protest and blocked some federal roads, to calm the situation. While Paikoro and other local government staff had to embark on strike to demand for their right. After thorough deliberations, members resolved to interface with the Executive Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello on the matter.
