Council bosses, under the auspices of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), are pushing for the adoption of a unified four-year tenure for elected local government officials, their President Aminu Muazu-Maifata said on Monday.

Muazu-Maifata told reporters in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa state yesterday that the move would ensure good governance and quality representation at the grassroots.

 

The ALGON President, who doubles as the chairman of Lafia Local Government Area, called on the National Assembly to urgently amend the nation’s constitution to unify the tenure of local government officials across the country.

 

He said: “The tenure of local government officials should be made four years to enable us deliver on our campaign promises to the electorate.

 

“It is unfortunate that the tenure of local government officials in some states is even one or two years. So, I wonder how these officials will deliver good governance within such a short period.”

 

On the N62, 000 minimum wage being proposed by the Federal Government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS), the ALGON boss called on the federal government to increase the monthly allocations of the 774 local government areas in the country.

 

He maintained that the move would enable the councils to pay the new minimum wage when it finally becomes a law.

 

Muazu-Maifata however lauded Governor Abdullahi Sule for granting autonomy to all the councils in Nasarawa State.

 

He called on other governors to emulate Sule toward the overall development of the country, particularly the grassroots.

 

On security in Lafia, he explained that the partial curfew imposed in the locality as a measure to tackle the increasing rate of kidnaping and other crimes within the state capital.

 

“We restricted the movement of motorcycles between 6pm and 6am and tricycles between 8pm and 6am.

 

“This is because security reports have it that criminal gangs are using these two means of transportation to perpetrate crimes and operate between the restricted hours.” he explained.

 

Noting that the security situation in Lafia has improved, Muazu-Maifata added that better strategies would be adopted toward the safety of lives and property.

 

Credit: thenationonlineng.net