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| The Impeached Deputy Speaker |
It also directed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to release all monies accruing to the local governments from the federation account to enable them pay salaries and arrears of their workers.
The legislators also reiterated the faction’s resolution directing the state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs to furnish it with receipts of revenue accruing to the councils, “failing which, the Assembly will pass a resolution directing the accountant general of the federation to stop the release of allocations to the local governments”.
The Assembly has been factionalised since June 9, after the suspension of four lawmakers, with Speaker Igbe leading 14 other lawmakers and Ebea leading eight others. The House resolution was sequel to a motion by its minority leader, Hon Emmanuel Okoduwa who urged the members to intervene in the industrial action. “Edo is the only state where local government workers pay tax without getting salary”, he stated.
On his part, Hon Friday Ogierhiakhi accused the state government of stealing from council areas under the guise of white elephant projects and urged members to rise to the occasion to preserve the sanctity of democracy. The legislators also frowned at what it described as emasculation of the legislative arm by governor Adams Oshiomhole stating the latter’s action negate the principals of separation of power.
Emmanuel Okoduwa who moved the motion urged members to call on the governor to stop polarising and interfering with the activities of the Assembly. He accused the governor of harbouring, merging suspended members and few others in government House.
Consequently, Acting speaker Ebea said: “it’s a shame to have part of the legislative arm being collapse into the executive arm” and urged the governor to stop running legislatures along party line.
-Culled from The Leadership Newspaper-
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