Edo Assembly suspends 18 council chairmen, over alleged insubordination to Okpebholo
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The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended the chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18 Local Government Councils of the State for a period of two months.
The House gave the suspension order was following a petition by the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, alleging refusal by the chairmen to submit the accounts statements of their respective local government councils to the state government.
The Governor in the petition, described the action of the council bosses as an act of insubordination and gross misconduct.
He therefore requested the lawmakers to look into the alleged insubordination.
When the matter came up for debate, the member representing Esan North East 1, Mr Isibor Adeh, moved the motion for the suspension and seconded by the member representing Akoko-Edo 2, Mr Donald Okogbe.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Blessing Agbebaku, had earlier insisted that all the members must speak on the matter.
After they had all spoken, the speaker directed the clerk of the House, Mr Yahaya Omogbai, to do a head count of the members who supported or opposed the suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies.
Fourteen members supported the motion for the suspension, six opposed the motion while three members refused to either support or oppose the motion.
Meanwhile, the House has mandated leaders of the legislative arms to take over leadership of their respective councils.
It would be recalled that the Governor had on Tuesday, 3 December, directed the chairmen of the 18 Local Government Councils to submit their account statements for the period of 4 September, 2023 till date, within 48 hours, to the Assets Verification Committee via the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
He gave the directive during a meeting with the council chairmen at the Government House in Benin City, where he was represented by his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa.
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