By; JULIANA KATUNG, Kaduna
Kaduna State House of Assembly has on Thursday 8th February, 2018 stepped-down the local government autonomy for further legislative action but approved the Financial Legislative Autonomy.
This followed a letter brought to the House from the National Assembly requesting its approval of the fourth alterations of the Nigeria 1999 Constitution.
The Assembly approved nine of the alterations, stepped-down two and rejected four from the proposed amendments sent in by the National Assembly.
The sitting which was presided by Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Shagali said the alterations include financial autonomy to state assemblies, local government autonomy, removal of “force”, from Nigeria Police Force, reduction of age for qualification to political offices, independent candidature in elections among others.
He further explained that two of the alterations that were step-down which are, the local government autonomy and the stregthen of local government administration in Nigeria will be subjected to further study.
Some of the alterations rejected includes ,independent candidature in election, period in which the president or state governor will lay the approriation bill before the national Assembly or state Assembly ,also an act to provide for procedure for passing a constitution Alterations bill were president withholds assents.
Others include the reduction of period within which the president or the governor of a state may authorize the withdrawal of monies from the consolidated revenue fund in the absence of an appropriation act from 6 months to three months.
Speaking shortly after the plenary chairman House committee on information Mr Nuhu Shadalafiya stressed that if state assemblies are autonomous the affairs and matters related to would be handled effectivelƴ.
Shadalafiya said stepping down the local government autonomy in the proposed amendment does not mean it’ has been rejected rather it’s implies that there is need to back into the details of amendment so as to make corrections were its needed.
