Oshiomhole, lawmakers clash over tenure of council chairmen
Oshiomhole, lawmakers clash over tenure of council chairmen
The Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole and lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly on Wednesday clashed over resolution that lawmakers should hand over to Heads of Local Government Administration.
It will be recalled that the tenure of elected council officials will end on Thursday.
Governor Oshiomhole however described the resolution as inappropriate and unacceptable.
Oshiomhole in a letter read during plenary accused the lawmakers of usurping power of the executive.
The letter reads: “My attention has been drawn to the resolution of the house directives asking local government chairmen to hand over administration on April 21, 2016.
“The resolution is a usurpation of the powers of the executive. The house does not have the power to give such directives.
“I have already directed the local government chairmen to submit their handing over the note and transmit such to the office of the governor.”
Lawmakers who spoke expressed disappointment with the content of the letter.
They stated they acted within the ambit of the law and the powers conferred on the assembly by section 4,6 and 7 of the 1999 constitution as amended and section 10 (1) of the local government law 2000 as amended.
Kabiru Adjoto, the member representing (APC Akoko-Edo) constituency, said the letter amounts to executive rascality.
Adjoto said the lawmakers derived their powers from the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Mr Speaker, I want to state clearly that the house has the powers to make laws for the state and any other matter not included in the exclusion list.
“We did not dissolve the councils, what we did was to remind them that their tenure expires onThursday, April 21, 2016 and directed them to hand over administration to their various heads of local government as there can be no vacuum in government.
“I want to move that the Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahagbon be invited to explain why he has misinformed the governor on constitutional matters,” Adjoto said.
Speaker Victor Edoror said the house resolution directing the council chairmen to hand over administration to their HOS at the expiration of their tenure stands.
Edoror also summoned the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to appear before the house on Tuesday, April 26.
