By,Giwa Alex,Jos.
The President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees ,Plateau state chapter ,Comrade Samson Mafuyai has applauded the Plateau State 8th House of Assembly for the passage of 14 bills seeking to address numerous Nigeria problems as a welcome development.
The people at the local government were already skeptical and apprehensive over the umppresant news that some people, strong people within the corridor of power are working hard to ensured the bill of the local government Autonomy did not see the” Light Of Day”.
Comrade Mafuyai disclosed this to our correspondent at the PLHA complex after his solidarity support visit to the sitting on Thursday ,15th February, 2018 .
According to him, the absence of local government autonomy will lead to returning Nigeria in the” Dark Days “of military junta , so we mobilize our members to witness the proceedings and know the next action to be taken but all members key in .
He condemned the APC committee reports Chaired by the Governor of Kaduna state, Nasiru EL -Rufai asking all their members to disregard the opinion ,which he said is selfish and greedy .
However, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Hon.Peter Azi declared open the day sitting with 16 Members out of the 24 were present but they all overwhelmingly voted in favour of the fourteen constitutional alteration bill seeking to amend the 1999 constitution.
Presided over the day sitting ,Rt Hon. Speaker ,Peter Azi told the members that 15 bills seeking to alter the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended,the motion raised by the Majority leader Henry Yenkwap member representing Shendam and seconded by Mohammed Balu member representing Qua’an pan .
The Majority leader ,Hon. Henry Yenkwap member representing Shendam constituency tender apology on behalf of the Deputy Speaker Rt ,Hon Saleh Shehu Yipmong ,Rt Hon .Yusuf Babayo Gagdi former ,Rt Hon Ibrahim Baba Hassan ,Hon Na’ang ,Hon Ezekiel Afon Hon ,Saleh Adamu Mavo ,Hon Alice Temlong ,and Pankshin South respectively for their unavoidably absence at the sitting due to circumstances beyond their control.
1 The short title of the bill is constitution fourth alteration bill 2017.
2 The alteration act No 2 ,2017 seeks to alter sections 2 ,82 and 122 .
I this act seeks to minimize the period of expenditure before the budget passage from 6 months to 3 appropriation bills
ii to encourage early presentation and passage of appropriation bills .
3 The alteration act No 4 ,2017 ,seeks to alter only one section 121 to provide for direct funding of the state houses of Assembly ,121(3a&b) and the judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund of the state.
4 The alteration act No ,5 ,2017 seeks to alter sections 165 ,by abolishing the a joint account ,,empowering each local government council to maintain its own account ,provide for savings in the federal account allocation committee before distribution .
5 The alteration act no 6,2017 sections -sections 7 and 318 by providing that all local government councils that are not democratically elected shall not be entitled to revenue from the federation account .
6 The alteration act no 8 ,2017 ,seeks to alter 6 sections -sections 4 ,section 67 ,section 68 ,section 93 and section 109 to provide immunity for members of the legislature in respect of what they say or write at the plenary or committee proceedings and to institutionalized legislative bureaucracy .
7. The alteration act no 9 ,2017 ,seeks to alter 2 sections ,134 ,179 and creating a new section 225 A to provide INEC with sufficient time to conduct by election and provide grounds for de-registration of political parties.
8 The alteration act No 14 ,2017 ,6 sections to provide for independent candidate in election receive overwhelming votes.
9 The alteration Act No 15 ,2017 seeks to alter 6 section as well as 3rd schedule to change the name “Nigeria Police Force “, to ” Nigeria Police ” 16 votes no single members refused .
10 The alteration Act No 16 ,2017 seeks to alter 2 sections 137 and 182 to disqualify a person who was sworn in as president or Governor from being elected to the same office for more than a single term all members vote in favour .
11. The alteration Act No, 20 ,2017 seeks to alter 11 sections and 2 schedules ,the 3rd alteration No ,3 ,2911 to further strengthen the judiciary for speedy dispensation of justice all members vote in favour.
12 The alteration act No 21 ,2017 seeks to alter sections 285 to provide time for the determination of preelection matters was all voted in favour.
13 The alteration Act No 22,2017 seeks to insert a heading to reflect the establishment and core functions of the Nigeria security and civil defence corps .
14 The alteration act No 24 ,2017 seeks to alter sections 9 to provide the procedure for passing a constitutional alteration bill where the president withholds assent .
By the overwhelming passage of the bill by the 8 Plateau House of Assembly, the president of NULGE Plateau State Chapter Comerad Samson Mafuyai charged her member not to relent in prayers until the president assent to it.
On how many states had so far passed the bill into law ,
He said with the passage of the bill by the State 8 Assembly not fewer than 8 States had votes in favor of LG Autonomy.
