Kogi Gov Request Six Months Extension for LG Administrators

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello tuesday requested the state House of Assembly to further extend the tenure of local government administrators in the state.

In a letter sent to the asembly by the governor, he noted that it became necessary due to the paucity of funds which could not enable the state conduct local government polls.

The tenure of the local government transition committee had earlier expired on November 5.

Reading the letter on the floor of the assembly, the Speaker, Hon. Mathew Kolawole, said the governor had made the extension request to allow his administration include the council election in the 2018 Appropriation Bill.
The assembly has scheduled today for further debate on the matter.

However, the Executive Director Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), Idris Miliki Abdul, has condemned the request of the governor to extend the tenure of local government administrator.

Miliki in a statement issued yesterday said the continuous formation of local transition committee is illegal and undemocratic.

He said: “This is the second time the tenure of the current unelected administrators in all the local government areas in the state.

You would recall that the tenure of the elected local government council came to an end on May 6, 2016, and no election has been conducted.

“With this request for another extension, when will elections to the local government council be conducted?”