joshuaEdo Assembly Sacks Council Chairmen, Vice
–directs Leaders Of Legislative arms to take over
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
Edo State House of Assembly has passed a resolution suspending chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18 local government councils of the state for two months.
The house also mandated leaders of the legislative arms to take over leadership of their respective councils.
The suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies was sequel to a motion moved by the member representing Esan North East one, Mr Isibor Adeh and seconded by the member representing Akoko-Edo two, Mr Donald Okogbe.
The governor of the state, Senator Monday Okpebholo had written a petition to the House over refusal of the chairmen to submit financial records of their local government to the state government.
In the letter, the governor who described their action as an act of insubordination and gross misconduct, requested the House to look into the matter.
When the matter came up for debate, 14 members supported the motion for their suspension, 6 of them were opposed to the motion while 3 members refused to either support or oppose the motion.
The speaker of the House, Mr Blessing Agbebaku had earlier told the members that all of them must speak on the matter.
After they had all spoken, the speaker directed the clerk of the House, Mr Yahaya Omogbai to do a head count of the members who supported or opposed the suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies.
Aljazirah Nigeria recalls that in a meeting with the 18 local government Chairmen in government house a few weeks ago, the governor ordered them to submit their statement of accounts from 4th of September 2023, to date, to the Assets Verification Committee within 48 hours (2 days).
Also , “Their statement of accounts should be sent through the office of the Secretary to the State Government to the Assets Verification Committee”.
“the Governor would want you to submit your statement of accounts from 4th of September 2023, to date, to the Assets Verification Committee within the next 48 hours (2 days), as that would help and enable the Committee do its job effectively and efficiently”. He stated.
