If the State Independent Electoral Commission is anything to reckon with following the Nation’s constitution amendment in progress, then Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RISEC, may soon real out her plans for the State Local Government Election.
According to the State Local Government Laws as amended 2012, the local government elected representatives are to serve for 3 years single tenure and if in any case positive 6 years two term of office.
The elections into local government authorities in Rivers State however, took place between April and May 2011 and will be terminating in 2014 to make up the 3 years tenure for the current serving officers of local government councils in the state.
It will preferably end between March and April in 2014 and will usher in fresh elective officers through another election.
Though fears of the unknown seems running down on the faces of the occupants of the state Brick House occasioned on the rocking crisis in the state, some political parties are marking the time for a fierce battle to claim most wards in the state come 2014.
The worries now is that having known that the present occupants of these local councils will leave office in 2014 and half of the year 2013 is far gone, what is the professor Ahiazu’s led commission in the state doing in preparation for a successful polls, if at all the poll will be conducted.
It is about nine (9) months into the election period come 2014 and the commission seems silent over its preparation.
This, many termed and linked it to the political crisis bedeviling the state as they posit that the governor may not likely conduct the local government polls but may run the councils with the unconstitutional drain pipe called caretaker committee.
While, our focus is on the impact of elected councilors from the about 319 wards into the 23 local government councils in the state, the state electoral umpire should avail herself the opportunity of enlightening the electorates now when it is not too late.
It is note worthy and pertinent that RISEC resumes its enlightenment campaign now to sensitize the people on its proposed operations, by that the people will be aware of the essence of one man, one vote and the need to be peaceful during electoral activities.
Back to our base, it is interesting to note that the representatives and elected councilors are saddle with the responsibility of promulgating laws that will positively affects and impact the lives of the citizenry.
In our context, as a developing country in the world, the grassroot, rural and localities as one may call it forms the basis of our nationhood.
Therefore, when the rural areas are developed, there is the believe that, the local governments, states and nation is developed.
The essence of operation of local government councils as the third tier of government is to bring governance closer to the people at the grassroot, who could not reach out to their governors or president but could get in touch with the council chairman or other elected and appointed representatives from their respective areas.
It is observed that most local government chairmen in Rivers State are not assessible to the people they govern and in similar style of operation the councilors equally toe the lifestyle of their chairmen.
To most chairmen, the councilors who are lawmakers are better closer to the people and should act as mediators between them and the people. But the question is where are the councilors?
Lawmaking is the cardinal objective of the councilors who emanated from the various wards and communities in the areas but a very crucial question that roles on the lips of everyone in the society is, “Are the councilors actually making the laws?
I am challenging all councilors in the state to state the fact that they are doing what the people sent them to do.
There is no single bill passed into bye-laws in most local government councils by their respective legislative Assemblies since assumption of office.
Does it reveals that the councilors are incapable of their duties or constrained by certain factors that could not enhance their performance?
Most of the councilors I suppose do not understand the line by line draft of what a bill proposition is, otherwise what could an entire legislative Assembly be up to that an administration of almost 2½ years could not proposed, debate or passed a single bye-law into action in a local government. It is incredible indeed.
I am also suppose that like the state House of Assembly where citizens throngs the gallery to watch their lawmakers in session, most of the local council chambers are closed against spectators, probably because of inefficiency.
Another reason is because they do not understand what and why they are there but only for money bags.
The councilors only passed the yearly budget of their chairmen, where their share is also represented, but without monitoring of the expenditures whatsoever the chairmen must have been making.
There is a clear indication that about 90% of the chairmen are neither doing less than expected nor doing nothing at all.
The indolent, careless, rascality and unnecessary loyalty to the executive chairmen are some top reasons why the local councils are administered without regard to the people.
I only want to play cool in this episode hence the non mention of name of councils, that have not debated on a single bill in the house since assumption of office in 2011.
But if any council in Rivers State could register any defence premised on any position then we can debate further.
You know why, the laws establishing the legislative councils and the Rivers State local government laws as amended of 2012 has to an extent provides for a certain number of sitting requirements to be kept in a given legislative year.
It is therefore incumbent for these councilors in all the 23 local government councils to justify the claim, salaries and sitting allowances they have been taking home every successive month, without doing justice to the essence of their election 2 years ago.
With all due respect to whoever ox’s might be wrecked or involve in this episode of issue Abattoir, it is my opinion, assessment and judgment that the present crop of councilors in the 23 local government councils have failed the electorates.
It is also my opinion that wards, electorates and political parties should assess properly any candidate they are sponsoring and presenting to the public especially the so called legislative leaders.
It is shameful that irrespective of the said system, policy and method of operations within any given council, the councilors for 2 years and above could not proposed, debate and passed any bill in their houses.
Why should they embark on recess, what have they done, have they desipeted any energy?
It is embarrassing for a legislative house for 2 years and about 5 months to become a decoration on the streets and premises of their respective local government areas.
Let Nigerians be wise in the process of selection, appointment, detection and election of whosoever they want to represent them. ###
