Benue State House of Assembly made a significant move on Friday, amending the 2007 Local Government Act to increase the tenure of local government elected officials from two to three years.
This change came just hours before today’s local government elections.
The amendment was unanimously approved by the House, led by Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh, after a thorough clause-by-clause review of the bill. Specifically, sections 13(2) and 27(3) of the former law were revised to reflect the new three-year tenure.
According to Speaker Dajoh, “the amendment was necessary to allow the chairmen enough time to develop their areas.”
This decision aims to provide stability and enable local leaders to implement long-term projects without the pressure of imminent elections.
The amended bill has now been forwarded to the governor for assent, marking a crucial step towards its enactment into law.
It’s worth noting that this amendment is not an isolated incident. The Benue State House of Assembly has made similar changes in the past, such as amending the State Local Government Electoral Law of 2012 to pave the way for a three-year tenure for council chairmen.
