By Ahmed Attahir, Gusau
The zamfara state House of Assembly has extended the tenure of local government council caretaker chairmen and councillors by another six months.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director General, Press and Public Relations to the House, Mallam Mustafa Kaura and made available to SINL Nigeria Online.
The statement said the extension was approved on Tuesday to allow the executive arm of government to make adequate preparations for the conduct of local government election in the state.
“The resolution was reached at the resumed plenary on Tuesday when Speaker Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya opened the floor with an executive letter requesting for an extension of time for the caretaker committee chairmen which was signed by the secretary to the state government Alh Bala Bello Maru”.
The motion for the extension of time to the local government council caretaker committees was raised by House leader Hon Faruk Musa Dosara.
It’s reads “the extension is in line with the provision of section 18(4) of the zamfara state local government law 2012 (as amended)”.
Hon. Dosara further explained at the expiration of this extension granted to local government councils, the state electoral commission will be left with no alternative than to conduct another free, fair and credible local government elections in the state.
In their separate remarks at the floor of the chamber, Hon. kabiru Hashimu Dansadau, Hon. Nura Dahiru Sabon Birnin Dan Ali and Hon Sani Dahiru Adabka supported the extension of the local government in the state.
However, Hon. Muhammad G. Ahmad said caution should be taken in granting the request, stressing that even at the expiration of the tenure, the local government election is subject to the availability of funds from the state government, pointing out that conducting election is capital intensive while the country is in economic recession.
Following debateon the matter, the House resolved to give the fourteen local government caretaker committees and their councilors another extension of six months period.
