LG autonomy: Bauchi APC joins calls for scrapping of state electoral body

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The Bauchi State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has joined in the clamour for the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).

According to the party, such action would allow the local government to serve as a third tier of governance as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The call was made in a press statement issued to Journalists in Bauchi on Saturday signed by State APC Publicity Committee Chairman, Malam Saadu Umar.

“Moreover, President Tinubu and the APC-led National Assembly should remove Governors from conducting local government council elections. This is the only way to have free and fair local government council elections.

“Undoubtedly, the judgement of the Supreme Court is welcome by all and sundry, particularly the grassroots. It has reduced deep and growing disaffection and cynicism with the local government administration and politicians in government. To suggest otherwise is absurd. The only disaffected people are the Governor of Bauchi State, Sen Bala Mohammed and his breed for selfish reasons,” the statement partly reads.

The APC also berated Governor Bala Mohammed for criticising the policies of the federal government which he said has inflicted hardship on Nigerians.

The party stated that since the APC government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into inception, the economy of the nation, including Bauchi State, has been transformed positively through the execution of laudable projects in the state and other parts of the country.

“There is no nation that does not experience challenges, hence it is very unreasonable for Governor Bala Mohammed to blame the president for the removal of subsidy that he vehemently supported when he served as Minister in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet.

“Agreed that there are challenges, yet President Tinubu’s policies are working. For instance, the policies are the reason Governor Mohammed is now receiving billions and billions in monthly allocations, up to thrice as much as he used to receive. From January to June, Governor Bala Mohammed has received over N87.4 billion from FAAC

“President Tinubu is the reason why Governor Mohammed and his colleagues received over N135.4 billion last December in order to help the poor and the vulnerable in Bauchi. Similarly, President Tinubu just gave over N438 billion to Governor Mohammed and his brothers to fight hunger in Bauchi and other states.

“Apart from the billions being sent to Bauchi, President Tinubu has signed laws, specifically laws to help Bauchi workers and Beyond. The National Minimum Wage Act is freshly signed by the president that mandated a N70, 000 minimum wage. Sadly, Governor Mohammed has refused to pay this minimum wage to Bauchi workers despite collecting over N100 billion from Abuja.

“Rather, Governor Mohammed has unconsciously paid over N11.6 billion to a questionable financial consultant by June this year. Another over N9 billion was paid to the same consultant last year, instead of paying just N70,000 to workers, Governor Mohammed paid over N33.5 billion to his Government House and Governor’s Office as overhead cost between January and June this year.

“In lieu of taking care of citizens, including pensioners who are being owed gratuities, Governor Mohammed engages in boondoggles and white elephant projects like flyovers. Bauchi has never seen such an obscene distortion of public spending.”

The APC added that, “Again, Governor Mohammed parroted disparagingly the false claim of emptiness of the President’s speech. It may be that understanding English, the course he studied in Maiduguri has left him.

“How else do you explain the mispronunciation of a simple word like “Infallible” by an English graduate? Those with clear heads saw the fullness and not the emptiness of the President’s speech. For instance, Tinubu talked about removing taxes and import duties on food importation to reduce prices of food. Aren’t high prices and availability of food part of the issues raised by the protesters?” the party enquired.

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