By Dipo Olowookere
The interim committees put in place by the Kwara State Governor, Mr Abdulfatah Ahmed, in the 16 local government areas in order not to create vacuum with the end of tenure of the current office holders in councils in the state has received the applause of the Congress of Nigeria’s Political Parties (CNPP).
Last week, the Governor sacked all the council bosses and replaced them with Interim Transition Committee (ITC).
The CNPP, which hailed this move, also commended Mr Ahmed led administration for prompt and regular payments of workers’ salaries, advising the government to always allow salaries of workers take front burner.
In a statement jointly signed by the State Chairman, Alhaji Adebayo Lawal and the Secretary, Prince Olufemi Adeleke, the congress explained that the decision for the Interim Transition Committee was understandable in view of the current national economic downturn as a conduct of the election requires huge financial commitment.
The congress maintained that Transition Interim Committee is not new in Nigeria as it is being practised in many states of the federation.
“This is not a new thing as it had been practised in so many states of the federation where some states had not even carried out Local elections in the last three to four years of the administrations,” the statement explained.
The CNPP commended the state government for holding the past local government elections as at and when due, while urging all well-meaning Kwarans appreciate the herculean task before the state government in the face of the national economy”.
The congress called on the state government to keep up the good record as one of the states holding local government elections on schedule. “Hence”, it stated, “when the wherewithal is available, the local government elections should be held as soon as practicable”.
Adedapo Adesanya