Bashir Opaluwa Idris
The Kogi State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, has assured of its continued readiness to synergize with Chairmen of the Twenty One Local Government Areas of the State so as to enhance grassroots development.
Chairman of the Committee and member representing Okene Two State Constituency, Yusuf Eneve gave the assurance in a message when he led his colleagues to an oversight visit to Kogi, Lokoja and Ajaokuta Local Government Councils on Monday 5th May, 2025.
Eneve who was represented by the member representing Olamaboro State Constituency, Hon. Anthony Ujah, explained that the purpose of their visit is to scrutinize the Local Councils endeavours, assess their progress and identify areas for improvement.
He noted that oversight functions are crucial for ensuring accountability and transparency in local government operations.
“We want to know what they have been able to achieve so far in view of what is coming into their local government accounts.
“As the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended has empowered us to oversight the activities of the local government areas” he said.
Eneve however urged the Chairmen not to see their oversight function as witch-hunt but a discharge of constitutional responsibility in order to ensure maximum delivery of dividends of democracy especially at the grassroot.
The Lawmaker commended the Councils for their performance and judicious use of resources.
In their separate remarks, the Chairmen of Kogi, Lokoja and Ajaokuta Local Governments; Hon. Musa Abdulmalik, Comrade Abdullahi Adamu and Hon. Haruna Ogido described the visit as timely as it will strengthen them to deliver on their primary responsibility of having an open door policy towards addressing challenges at the local levels.
While expressing their readiness to work with State’s legislative arm in order to deliver on the desired objectives of their election and the establishment of local government areas, the Chairmen appealed for total overhaul of their Council Secretariat.
Meanwhile the Committee has paid a courtesy visit to the Ohimegye Igu of Kotonkarfe, Dr. Salihu; Maigari of Lokoja, Dr. Kabir; and the Ohi of Eganyi, Alhaji Musa Achuja in their various Palace to seek for their blessings and advice towards discharging their responsibility and improving chieftaincy affairs in the State.
The Committee also paid condolence visit to the Lawmaker Representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency at the House of Representative, Sanni Egidi Abdulrahim at his Ajaokuta residence over the death of his beloved mother.
Other members of the Committee include: Idris Maikudi Aliyu (Kogi-Kotonkarfe), Bin Ebaiya Shehu-Tijani (Lokoja One), Abuh Jibrin (Ajaokuta), Major Enefola (Igalamela-Odolu), Hon. Obaro Emmanuel (Yagba-East) and Jacob Sam Olawunmi (Mopamuro).
