Amendment To LG Bill Not Aimed At Dethroning Sultan, Says Sokoto Assembly

The Sokoto State House of Assembly has clarified that the amendment of “A Bill for a law to consolidate the Local Government law 2008” is to enhance traditional institutions’ standards.

Alhaji Sa’idu Ibrahim (APC- Sabon Birni South), Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Community Development, said the amendment focused at the district level, and not to dethrone the Sultan.

He made this clarification while addressing journalists after presenting the committee’s report at the assembly’s plenary session on Tuesday.

The lawmaker stated that the bill was intended to support the traditional institution and define the tenure of local government councils.

According to him, people have misunderstood or have no knowledge of the importance of the bill’s amendment in raising the dignity of the traditional institution.

While presenting the report at the plenary session, he reminded members that the executive bill received its first and second readings on June 26, after which it was referred to the committee for further scrutiny.

“Immediately after, the committee swung into action, conducting a public hearing and obtaining memoranda from relevant stakeholders,” he said.

Ibrahim explained that the committee recommended the consolidation of the local government law, 2008, together with the 2014, 2016, 2018 amendments, and the 2024 amendment bill.

“There is a need to expunge sections 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 in the law to be consolidated, having been repealed by the Sokoto State Local Government Audit Law, No. 5 of 2022.

“Also, there is a need to make provision for the resolution of the Assembly approving the estimate of revenue and expenditure of the local government council,” he said.

He thanked all the stakeholders who participated in the public hearing and provided both written and oral inputs, contributing to the success of the report.

Presenting the bill for the third reading, Alhaji Bello Idris (APC-Gwadabawa North), House Majority Leader, sought the support of the lawmakers for the success of the amendment in the state.

The Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim (APC-Kware), who presided over the plenary session, put the motion to a voice vote, and the lawmakers unanimously adopted the bill’s amendment.

In a related development, the assembly has passed a bill to repeal the Arabic and Islamic Education Commission Law No. 5 of 2022.

This followed the consideration of the report from the House Committee on Basic and Secondary Education at the plenary session.

Presenting the report, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu (APC-Yabo), Acting Chairman of the Committee, said the amendment aimed to “make provision for the establishment of the Arabic and Islamic Education Board.

“This is to provide for the reformation of Qur’anic schools, the Almajiri system, and for purposes connected therewith,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the executive bill was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers as the Deputy Speaker put the motion to a vote.