Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas Caretaker Committee Chairmen in Oyo State have been given a nine-day ultimatum to submit a comprehensive report on the state of the earth moving equipment in their council areas.
The Oyo State House of Assembly gave the ultimatum following majority of local government and local council development areas’ failure to comply with the House’ directive.
The House informed the council bosses to yield to the warning or face outright suspension.
The House Committee Chairman on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and State Honour, Hon Segun Popoola, representing Ibadan South East constituency 2, revealed to the House while presenting his committee’s interim report during plenary on Wednesday.
Hon Popoola disclosed that only three local governments; Irepodun, Ibarapa Central and Atisbo South had submitted their reports.
The Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin condemned the inability of the Chairmen and the Heads of Local Government Administration to comply with the House’ directive by submitting the report, noting that the report is expected to give highlight to the condition of the earth moving equipment in their various council areas.
The Speaker, while describing the attitude of the Chairmen as uncalled for, reiterated the commitment of the House to suspend any local government or LCDA that fails to comply with the directive after the expiration of the ultimatum.
In his reaction, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Muhammad Fadeyi said that the action of the Caretaker Chairmen is despicable, saying that it is a slap on the face of the legislature.
Hon. Popoola in the report equally recommended that the Chairmen should embark on construction and rehabilitation of roads within their localities especially rural roads for smooth and easy transportation system.
The recommendation also urged the council bosses to always maintain good maintenance culture in the management of government equipment and property.
Recall that the House had on the 18th of August, 2020 directed all the 33 LGs and 35 LCDAs in the state to submit detailed report of earth moving equipment in their council to the house Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
The report is expected to contain the list of graders, bulldozers, flat-bed trucks and other earth moving equipment in their council areas with a view to ascertaining their condition and levels of functionality.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
