The Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has directed the 357 members of the transition committees to run the affairs of the 18 council areas and the 33 Local Council Development Areas LCDAs in the state to assume office.
Aiyedatiwa’s directive is contrary to the Apex Court judgment that gives fiscal autonomy to local governments and the court verdict that nullified the creation of the Local Government Development Areas in the state,
The governor who gave the order after a meeting with committee members in Akure, the state capital, directed them to assume duties immediately in the 18 local government areas and the nullified 33 LCDAs with immediate effect.
Aiyedatiwa was represented at the meeting by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs in the state, Mr Amidu Takuro.
Justifying the governor’s action, the commissioner while addressing the committee members, said that the state was not the only state affected by the Apex Court verdict.
Takuro noted that the local government election could not be conducted in a hurry but had to comply with the Electoral Act.
According to him, the transition committees needed no formal inauguration since their appointment reads that it takes immediate effect.
The Commissioner said “No fewer than 21 states are affected and this is not peculiar to Ondo State alone.
He said “The governors will be meeting in Abuja during the week and there is still room for negotiations and there’s no need for rush.
“Judgement does not take immediate effect, even at that, we cannot conduct local government election immediately. There are procedures for election, so, we will study the judgement.
“Again, the Federal Government will not want to punish the local government workers by withholding their salaries or getting their allocation to them, though we have no option than to concur with the judgement, it cannot be immediately.”
In an interview, the chairman of Akure East LCDA, Kayode Taiwo and the transition members confirmed that they have assumed office.
Another member of the Transition committee who spoke with Vanguard in confidence said “all the new appointees have been asked to resume their office.
” The Supreme Court judgement did not affect the appointment of the transition committee as we are only appointed to oversee the affairs of the local government.
“We are not elected but we are appointed in order not to create vacuum in the administration of the local government but the local government election might hold soon according to the constitution”
Recall that the opposition People’s Democratic Party and the Labour Party in the state, have kicked against the constitution of the Transition Committee.
The parties described Aiyedatiwa’s action as a flagrant disrespect to an earlier judgement by an Ondo State High Court.
A statement issued by the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kennedy Peretei, said “it is the height of lawlessness and impunity for Aiyedatiwa to appoint Committees for LCDAs that are non-existent in the eyes of the law.
Peretei said “The PDP in Ondo State Chapter wishes to advise the Governor to respect the laws of the land and stop embarrassing the people of the state with his actions that make us laughing stock in the comity of civilised people”
Peretei who also faulted the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Kayode Ajulo, for ill-advising Aiyedatiwa for the constitution of the Transition Committee, particularly the LCDAs which is no longer in the eye of the law.
He called for the immediate resignation of Ajulo, for violating his Oath of office, for saying the governor has the Constitutional right to put the committee in place without citing any portion of the Constitution where he derived such powers from.
Also, the Labour Party, in a statement by its Chairman Hon. Abiodun Agbaje, said “Ondo Labour Party also vehemently rejected the action of the Ondo State Government for appointing new caretaker chairmen and transition committee for the 18 local governments across the state as well as the newly created 33 LCDAs which were already scrapped by a court judgement”
But the Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Kayode Ajulo, SAN, has justified the appointment by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Ajulo insisted that the appointment of Transition Committees for 18 Local Governments and 33 Local Council Development Areas was the Constitutional right of the Governor.
According to him ” the appointment of Transition Committees is a lawful exercise of the Governor’s constitutional powers.
“The Committees are intended to ensure seamless transition and continuity of government business in the affected areas.
” The legality of the LCDAs is currently the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, which are presently under appeal.
“The court has taken notice of this appeal. Therefore, the Governor’s appointment of Transition Committees is not in contempt of the court’s judgment, but rather a prudent action to ensure that the business of government continues uninterrupted in the affected areas.
” I urge the PDP to respect the rule of law and allow the legal process to run its full course, rather than resorting to inflammatory rhetoric.
“The Ondo State Government remains committed to upholding the laws of the land and ensuring good governance for all.”
