Local government chairmen in Plateau State have declared that the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang has no power to suspend them from office. On Thursday, the governor announced the suspension of all the 17 local government chairmen claiming the inability to submit accounts for their expenditures.
But in a swift reaction on the next day, the council chairmen rejected the suspension saying the governor lacks the constitutional jurisdiction to do so.
“Having painstakingly gone through the said press release, we make the following preliminary observations: The Governor did not cite any constitutional or statutory support, enabling him to suspend what they described as ‘17 local government area structures,” a phrase which does not lend itself to easy comprehension.
“If we do indeed understand the actions contemplated by the state Assembly, it was a mere resolution, which is advisory to the Governor. In any case, such advice will not override existing legislation establishing the Local Government councils, as enshrined in the constitution, which is domesticated by relevant laws on the same subject matter in Plateau state.
“We have gone through the Plateau State Local Government Council Law and we have found out that there is no part or whole of the law donating such powers to the House of Assembly. The Plateau State House of Assembly is the maker of the Plateau State Local Government Council law. To act in contempt and in utter disregard of the laws made by them is to devalue their functions,” they said.
