You’ve No Power To Sack LGA Chairmen – Malami Tells Makinde

Nigerian Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has asked the Oyo state government to revert his earlier action on the duly-elected local government area (LGA) chairmen.

Speaking through a leter issued by the minister and addressed to Prof. Oyewo Oyelowo, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State with reference HAGF /OYO /2020 /Vol. I/I.

The letter dated 14 January 2020 was entitled; “Unconstitutionality of dissolution of elected local government councils and appointment of the caretaker committee: The urgent need for compliance with extant judicial decisions.”

“The need to immediately disband all caretaker committees and restore democratically elected representatives to man the local governments has, therefore, become obligatory,” he said.

Malami requested that the commissioner take positive steps to ensure compliance, adding that the president and other relevant agencies would advise on further compliance measures to be taken in the national interest.

According to Malami, “in view of the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter that is binding on all 36 States of the Federation.”The common practice by some state governors in dissolving elected local government councils is unconstitutional, null and void.”So also any system of local government run by Caretaker Committees are outrightly illegal and unconstitutional,” he added.

He urged Makinde to reverse himself over the dissolution of local government administration in the State.

The letter reads further; “to this end, I hereby request all their Excellences, State Governors and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, who are currently acting in breach of the provisions of Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“And also acting in disobedience of the Supreme Court judgment highlighted above to immediately retrace their steps by ensuring compliance with the above in the overall interest of the rule of law and our democracy,” it said.

Malami said that copies of the letter have been sent to the IGP, DSS, EFCC, and NFIU.