A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All
Obidimma, Angela E.
- Legality of Caretaker Committees to Manage Local Government Councils in Nigeria
Authors
1 Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, NG
Source
International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, Vol 5, No 5 (2016), Pagination: 203-210Abstract
The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides in its section 7(1) for democratically elected local government councils in Nigeria. However, many states in the country manage their local governments without such democratically elected councils but with caretaker committees appointed by the state governors. This paper examines the legality of such caretaker committees appointed to manage local governments in the face of the constitutional provisions on the matter and the further provision of section 1(2) of the Constitution to the effect that the country nor any part of it shall not be governed or its government taken control of by any person or group of persons except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The methodology adopted is a review of the Constitution and state laws on the issues, as well as judicial decisions and opinion of writers. The research reveals that this method of managing local government is unconstitutional and has resulted in inefficiency as well as other shortcomings in the management of local governments in Nigeria. The paper recommends a strict application of the provisions of the Constitution and a review of some problematic provisions of the Constitution on local government to prevent ambiguity and undue hardship on the implementation of the laws on local government in Nigeria.