OSUN State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the State Independent Electoral Commission (Amendment 1) Bill, 2024, and the Osun State Local Government Areas (Creation & Administration) (Amendment 7) Bill, 2024, into law to strengthen local government autonomy.
However, he said that the legislation will now be sent to the state’s executive governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for assent.
The Speaker of the State Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, explained that the passage of these bills is seen as a significant step towards strengthening the autonomy and decision-making capabilities of local governments in Osun State.
He stressed that “the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission Bill seeks to regulate the state’s electoral body to conduct elections in the recognized 30 local government areas.
It also empowers the elected local government chairmen to appoint chief administrators into the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and the six area councils within their respective jurisdictions.
Furthermore, the Local Government Creation and Administration Bill provides the elected local government chairmen with the authority to make appointments that will enable them to effectively discharge their duties.
The chief administrators appointed to the LCDAs and area councils will work closely with the chairmen and report back to them.
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The Speaker added that “this move aligns with the recent Supreme Court judgment that upheld the constitutional provisions for local government autonomy, granting them more financial and administrative independence from state governments
The key objectives of these bills are to align the state’s legislation with the recent Supreme Court judgment that upheld the independence of local governments.
