The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, has said that the 8th Assembly acted within the ambit of the law, in calling for the suspension of Chairmen and Councillors of Local Government and Local Council Development Areas.
This he noted was in line with Section 39 of the Local Government Law, 2000 as well as Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as Amended gave the Assembly the legal backing for the resolution calling for their suspension.
Oluomo, who spoke during an interview in Abeokuta, disclosed that the Assembly received petitions bordering on financial mismanagement and abuse of power as well as counter accusations against some of the council helmsmen, hence the need to investigate the series of complaints and petitions against them.
He pointed out that the ninth Assembly under his leadership had resolved to look into the various allegations leading to their suspension having directed the Council and LCDA Chairmen to submit their financial reports to the Assembly for assessment and appear in person before the Assembly on scheduled date next month to clear air on allegations against them.
Speaking on the Local Government autonomy, the Speaker disclosed though, the 8th Legislature of Ogun supported the Local Government autonomy in the last constitution amendment of the fourth alteration of the 1999 Constitution exercise by the National Assembly last year, but it suffered a major setback as it could not get the required two-third of State houses of Assembly, (twenty-four States) from the thirty-six Houses of Assembly across the nation.
He added that it was within the powers of the legislature to review the annual fiscal estimate of government before approval by means of addition or removal to allow for even distribution of developmental projects, adding that the constitution empowered the State legislatures to perform their oversight function on Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government with a view to ensuring judicious spending of government fund as appropriated in the appropriation law approved by them.
He assured of harmonious relationship with other arms of government for the overall socio-economic development of the State, while stressing that plans were underway by the present administration to provide necessary logistics and support for security formations towards addressing security challenges especially kidnapping, cultism and illegal invasion of farmlands by herdsmen.
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