By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
Taraba state House of Assembly on Wednesday, passed the local government elected officials tenure amendment bill into law.
Honourable Nelson Len, chairman house committee on Information disclosed the development while speaking to journalists in Jalingo.
Len noted that the bill after all due process required of, by the house, was passed into law to enable the new set of local government officials expected to be elected on Saturday, the 18th. November 2023, be bind by the amended law.
According to him, the house amended the administration period for local government elected officials which hitherto, was designed for three years, to two years.
The Ngoroje state constituency representative also denied the allegation that the house members had their Wednesday sitting in secret, over fear of been antagonised by the Parliamentary staff who are currently on strike.
Hon. Len also disclosed that the 10th, Assembly has paid the seven years outstanding parliamentary staff allowances as approved by Governor Agbu Kefas.
“Yes, we had our normal sitting yesterday amidst parliamentary staff strike. It was not in secret as being portrayed in the social media though, we did not followed through the popular entrance. We also went into the chamber earlier than usual which I believe was just a mere decision.
“Members can decide to go into the house as early as 6:am, and decide to also follow through any of the entrance, and that was what happened. We had pending bills of urgent public importance that needed to be passed to allow for effective governance of Taraba, so we decided to go into the house earlier than usual to enable us pass the bill.
“We passed the bill for the amendment of local government elected officials tenure from three years to two years. The bill has been laying there since the previous administration and since the local government election is coming up on Saturday, 18th. November, 2023, we saw it as important to pass the bill for the incoming officials to be binded by the amended law.
“We did not violate the right of the parliamentary staff by going into the chamber amidst strike. We had a understanding to allow us address a matter of urgent public importance.
“I wish to also inform you that we have just paid all the seven years outstanding parliamentary staff allowances as approved by governor Agbu Kefas. I, on behalf of the speaker and members of the assembly, commend governor Kefas for his Godly heart toward the welfare of Taraba workers. If there is any staff who has not received his alert by now, I believe is a network issue from his or her Bank,” Len disclosed.
Good job