Edo lawmakers suspend 18 council chairmen

 

The 24-member Edo State House of Assembly yesterday suspended the chairmen and vice chairmen of 18 local governments for two months.

The lawmakers directed the leaders of the legislative arms to take over the administration of the councils.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion by the representative of Esan Northeast 1 Constituency, Isibor Adeh, and seconded by the representative of Akoko-Edo 2 Constituency, Donald Okogbe.

Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo, in a petition on November 16 titled: “Insubordination and Gross Misconduct by the 18 Local Government Chairmen over Their Refusal to Submit Financial Records for Scrutiny”, urged the legislators to address the issue.

Adeh, in his motion for the suspension, said Section 20 (b) of the Local Government Act empowered Edo House of Assembly to suspend any errant local government chairman for two months, while the allegation of misconduct were being investigated. 

Fourteen lawmakers supported the motion for the suspension of the chairmen and their deputies, six opposed, while three members abstained.

Speaker Chief Blessing Agbebaku, who directed the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to do a head count of the members, declared that insubordination and gross misconduct would not be allowed from the council chiefs.

In a related development, the lawmakers screened and confirmed four nominees as chairman and members of Edo State Sports Commission.

The commission, to be chaired by Amadin Enabule, has Godwin Bazuaye, Frank Illaboya and Anthony Odianosen as members.