By Abubakar Muhammad Adamu
The Adamawa State House of Assembly has taken steps to repeal the Local Government Administration, System and Establishment Law 2000, with a view to extending the tenure of Local Government Council Chairmen from two to three years.
This development followed a letter forwarded to the Assembly by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, seeking the repeal of the law to allow for the extension of the Chairmen’s tenure.
The letter, along with another correspondence, was read during the resumed plenary session on Friday by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley.
Subsequently, the Majority Leader of the House and Member representing Demsa Constituency, Hon. Kate Raymond Mamuno, moved for the reading of the bills for the first and second time.
The Assembly has since committed the proposed bill to its Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for scrutiny.
This followed separate motions moved by Hon. Kate Raymond Mamuno the majority leader and member representing Demsa Constituency.
Earlier, Hon. Mamuno moved for the suspension of House Standing Order 14(2) to enable the House to sit on Friday a day not traditionally set aside for plenaries given that the Assembly has been on recess.
She emphasized the importance of the bills, particularly the one affecting Local Government Councils, stressing its relevance to the overall development of the LGAs.
She urged her colleagues to consider its significance and ensure its passage.
Reacting to the development, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Geoffrey Bulus, who represents Leko-Koma Constituency, confirmed that the Assembly has begun legislative work on the bill and commended the initiative.
Also commenting on the merits of the bill, Hon. Bulus Kantomon, a Committee member and Chairman of the House Committee on Public Service, Public Petitions, and Electoral Matters, lauded the move to extend the tenure of the Chairmen.
Hon. Kantomon, who represents Shelleng Constituency, described the letter and steps taken by the Assembly as a welcome development, stating that the bill is in the interest of the general public.