Nigeria

Retrace your step on dissolution of Oyo state local council - FG warns Makinde

Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 10:49 AM by Onyirioha Nnamdi

- The dissolution of Oyo state local council by Seyi Makinde has been condemned by the federal government

- In a letter to the state government, AGF Abubakar Malami said that the act is illegal and unconstitutional

- The minister also stated that the running of local council by a caretaker committee is also against the law

The federal government, through the minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, has reacted to the dissolution of Oyo state local council administration by Governor Seyi Makinde

In a letter to the state government, Malami said that the move by the state government is both illegal and unconstitutional, The Guardian reports.

The AGF also said that there is no provision in the Nigerian constitution that allows local council to be run by a caretaker committee set up by a governor.

The letter partly read: “The common practice by some state governors in dissolving elected local councils is unconstitutional, null and void."

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The minister said that the act is in violation of section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution and that all state governors guilty of it should retrace their steps. In the letter, Malami asked them to ensure they adhere to the dictates of the law.

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He added: "The need to immediately disband all caretaker committees and restore democratically-elected representatives to man the local councils has therefore become obligatory.”

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) had accused Makinde of lacking respect for the rule of law.

The association said the governor has since assumption of office failed to demonstrate an iota of respect for the rule of law and courts' declarations.

In an open letter signed by its chairman, Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye and its secretary, Jesutoye Oluyinka, alleged that the governor had serially breached the law which led to an illegal appointment of an unlawful contraption called caretaker chairmen.