Osun Assembly passes bill empowering Governor to fill vacant positions in LGAs

The Osun State House of Assembly has passed the State of Osun Local Government Administration Amendment NO. 7 bill 2021 into law.

The law empowers the State Governor to fill vacant positions in the local Governments.

Recall that the tenure of the elected officials of Local Government Areas in the state expired February 5th, 2021 and Chairmen had since handed over the administration of the councils to the most senior career officers of councils.

Subject to the confirmation of the House of Assembly, the law now empowers the Osun governor to appoint a caretaker management Committee to run the affairs of the councils for a period not exceeding six months where no election has been conducted.

A private member bill sponsored by the Speaker, RT. Hon. Timothy Owoeye for a law to amend the Local Government Administration No. 6 law of 2016 and other connected purposes now empowers the Governor of Osun to fill vacant positions in the local Governments.

The Speaker at plenary on Wednesday held that section 2 (a) of the State of Osun Local Government Administration amendment No. 6 Bill 2016 is amended forthwith as “Where a Local Government Council, Local Council Development Areas or Area Council is dissolved and no election has been conducted to reconstitute the council or it has become impracticable to immediately conduct election to fill the vacancies thereby created, the Governor shall appoint a Caretaker Management Committee to run the affairs of the council for a period not exceeding six months.

“The Local Government Caretaker Management Committee shall comprise the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Scribe to the Local Government and a member from each of the wards in the local Government Area or Local Council Development Area. In case of an Area Council, an Administrator shall be appointed.

“The appointments shall be subjected to the confirmation of the House of Assembly.”