- He highlighted that according to Section 5(1) of the Local Government Administration Law, 2017, the incumbent local government chairmen’s term had ended, automatically dissolving the councils
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday, granting Governor Umo Eno the authority to establish an interim administration across the state’s 31 local government areas, anticipating the expiration of the current chairmen’s tenure on Thursday, December 7.
Governor Eno, in a communication with reference number ‘GHU/AKS/S/104/VOL.1/607’ addressed to the Speaker, informed the House about the absence of provisions in the 2023 budget for local government elections, resulting in a lack of allocated funds for this purpose.
He reminded the legislators that the 2024 budget proposals, recently presented to the House, were undergoing sectoral defense and breakdown by respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) before approval.
Additionally, he highlighted that according to Section 5(1) of the Local Government Administration Law, 2017, the incumbent local government chairmen’s term had ended, automatically dissolving the councils.
He said, “I write to request that the House of Assembly pass a resolution authorising me to constitute interim administration in the local government areas of our state pursuant to s.5(2) of the Local Government (Administration) Law, 2017.”
Governor Eno, hinted that the State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) “has commenced the process leading to the announcement of the date for the election of new Chairmen of Local Government Councils; hence, he’s left with no alternative but to set up interim governance in the local governments pending the conduct of elections as proposed by AKISIEC, and prayed the House to favourably consider his request.