Should the judgement of the Supreme Court of July 11th, 2024 take effect immediately, 20 states out of the 36 states of the federation might not be receiving allocation for their local government areas.
This is because most states have resorted to governing the local governments through caretaker committees set up by the State Government.
This is contrary to Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the system of local government by democratically elected officials.
Caretaker committees have become a prevalent practice in different states across the federation, and are fast replacing local government councils.
Factors fingered for the inability of many States to conduct council polls include insecurity, paucity of funds as well as political and legal battles.
Thursday’s ruling by the Supreme Court declaring that it is unconstitutional for Governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations further raised the question of how LG helmsmen are routinely sacked from office and replaced with Caretaker Committees.
These are the states running local governments with caretaker committees, ALAO ABIODUN writes:
1. Rivers – Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara appointed caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas as he continues his battle with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, for the control of the political structure in the oil-rich state.
2. Jigawa – On June 28, 2024, the government of Jigawa State dissolved the elected council chairmen of the 27 local governments.
3. Anambra – On June 20, 2024, Governor Charles Soludo, through the House of Assembly, confirmed the appointment of transition committee chairmen and councillors for the 21 local government areas. Anambra’s case is very peculiar as the state has been without elected council chairmen for over 16 years.
4. Zamfara – In Zamfara, the last grassroots poll was held on April 27, 2019, and the State returned to appointees after the chairmen’s tenures expired. In May 2024, the Assembly approved a six-month extension for the caretaker committee.
5. Benue– n Benue, however, elections are scheduled to be held on July 6, 2024, for LG council chairmen.
6. Bauchi – Last year, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, sworn in 20 appointed local government area caretaker committee chairmen with their deputies.
7. Plateau – June 2023, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau inaugurated the Interim Transition Committee chairpersons for its 17 local government areas at Government House Jos.
8. Abia – In December 2023, Abia Governor Alex Otti, inaugurated the 17 local government transition council chairpersons.
9. Enugu – In March 2024, Enugu State Government ordered local government chairmen in the 17 councils to hand over administration to heads of personnel management after the expiration of their tenures.
However, the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, has fixed October 6th as the date to conduct the council election in line with the laws guiding ENSIEC activities.
10. Katsina
11. Kano – In March 2024, Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State recommended names of Interim Management Committee members for Local Government Areas of the state to its House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
12. Sokoto
13. Yobe – In April 2024, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, approved the dissolution of all the 17 local government councils of the state, and also directed all local government chairmen to handover the affairs of their respective local governments to Directors of Personnel Management.
14. Ondo – Ondo State Government also constituted Caretaker Committees for the 18 Local Councils and 33 Local Council Development Areas, (LCDA).
15. Osun – In February 2024, Osun Assembly extended the tenure of office and re-appointed caretaker committees of 30 Local Government Areas and 39 others running Modakeke Area Office and Local Council Development Areas in the state.
The extension was subsequently secured for the caretaker chairmen, vice chairmen, scribes and their members’ fresh six months tenure, beginning in February and ending in August 2024.
16. Delta
17. Akwa-Ibom – Governor Umo Eno last year through a letter with reference number GHU/AKS/S/104/VOL.1/607, addressed to the Speaker, Hon. Udeme Otong, informed the House of Assembly that there was no provision in the 2023 budget for the conduct of local government elections.
He urged the Assembly to pass a resolution authorising him to set up interim administration at the 31 local government areas at the expiration of the tenure of the elected council officials.
18. Cross River-
19. Imo– In Imo State, the last council poll was conducted on August 25, 2018, which was the first in seven years.
20. kwara– In Kwara State, the last council election was in November 2017 with caretaker committees in charge since 2020.
[TheNation]
Anambra State conducted her last local government elections in 2013 a few months before Peter Obi left office.