STOP ALLOCATION TO EKITI, REPS TELL ACCOUNTANT GENERAL

The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ibrahim Dankwabo was yesterday mandated by the House of Representatives to stop the statutory allocation to Ekiti State, following the dissolution of the councils by the state government. Also, the House urged the AGF to withhold the statutory allocations to states whose local councils were not elected, like Edo and Ondo.

Newly sworn-in Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi had on October 29 sacked the chairmen of the 16 local councils on account that their election was a violation of a court order by a government declared illegal by the Ilorin Court of Appeal.

But ruling on a motion of urgent national importance brought by Mr Femi Aribisala (PDP Ekiti State), the House said the sack of the elected council chairmen by the governor was a threat to democracy and should be condemned.

The House urged Governor Fayemi to rescind his decision and re-instate the sacked council chairmen.

Leading the debate, Aribisala contended that Dr Fayemi in dissolving the councils did not give any misdemeanor to warrant the sack of the council chairmen, adding that the people of Ekiti State reserved the right to elect their representatives at any level of governance.

He informed the House that when the governor sacked the council chairmen, the members of the State Assembly were away in Germany, whereas, he needed two -third majority of members of the House to dissolve the councils.

'It is pertinent for us to act fast to forestall the break down of law and order in Ekiti State.'

Contributing, Mr Halims Agoda (PDP Delta State) said the motion should be supported so as to aid development in the country.

Also, Mr Cyril Maduabum (PDP Anambra State) said the dissolution of the local councils by Governor Fayemi was illegal and out of place.

But opposing the motion, Deputy Minority Leader and Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Caucus, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN Lagos State) said the governor's action was in line with the 1999 constitution, as it was in the interest of the people of the state.

He cautioned members to be very careful in making incursions into state matters as the parliament was not a court of law.

Mr Patrick Obahiagbon (ACN Edo State) said when there was a conflict, it was the duty of the court to interpret the law and not the parliament.

He warned the House to stay away from issues that were personal and dwell more on national issues.

Meanwhile, the House adopted the conference report on a bill for an Act to provide remuneration for former presidents, heads of legislative Houses and chief justices of the federation, while a bill for an Act to repeal the Money Laundering and Prohibition Act 2004 and for an Act to repeal the Education Tax Fund Amendment Act 2003 passed through third reading and awaiting concurrence by the Senate.

However, the bill for an Act to amend the FRSC Establishment Act number 22, 2007 and a bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Authourity failed to pass through second reading.