Benin – The Edo House of Assembly on Wednesday approved the sack of the suspended chairman of Owan West local government council, Mr Godwin Aigbodion.
The approval was sequel to the consideration of the report of the house committee on local government on the commission of enquiry into an alleged gross misconduct of the suspended Owan West council chairman, Godwin Aigbodion.
The chairman of the committee, Mr Paul Ohonbamu, member representing APC Egor said the committee discovered that the suspended chairman lack the basic skills of governance
Ohonbamu said the chairman was ignorant of the law establishing the local government adding that, the suspended chairman was incompetent.
He said the committee also discovered that the suspended chairman’s financial recklessness plunged the council into debt .
The committee therefore recommended that the suspended chairman be relieved of his position following his inability to exonerate himself from all allegations levied against him.
The committee further recommended that the vice chairman, Mrs Regina Okun, be confirmed as substantive chairman of the council.
A third recommendation added by the member representing PDP Igueben, Mr Kingsley Ehigiamusor reads that the treasurer and the head of service of the local government be suspended for three months for assisting the suspended chairman to defraud the council.
The lawmakers adopted the committee’s recommendations.
The speaker, Uyi Igbe therefore directed that copies of the resolution be sent to the governor, commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, the suspended chairman and the local government service commission for immediate action.
Meanwhile, a bill for a law to make provision for the establishment of the Edo state college of Nursing and midwifery and a bill for a law to make provision for the establishment of school of midwifery, St. Philomeana Catholic hospital Benin, were passed.
A bill for a law to establish school of midwifery, St. Camillus hospital, Uromi was also passed on the floor of the house.
Meanwhile, the Edo House of Assembly on Wednesday approved and passed a reduction in the year 2015 appropriation bill from N159.3 billion to N127.1 billion.
It will be recalled that the House had in September 2014 passed a budget size of #159.3 billion
The budget was reduced with about N32 billion representing 20 percent off the total budget.
The appropriation bill had a recurrent expenditure of N62.9 billion, while the capital expenditure was put at N64.19
The speaker, Uyi Igbe said during the consideration of the bill at the committee of supply said that the 2015 appropriation law earlier passed had to be reduced because of the dwindling federal allocation accruing to the state.
Igbe said “we are reviewing the year 2015 budget to reflect the actual reality of the nation’s economy
” the ministry of works and environment were most affected by the reduction,” he said.
Also, a bill for a law to amend the provisions of the political and public officers Emolument law, 2007 was also passed during the session.
Uyi Igbe
