Edo Assembly passes bill to amend local government law

The Edo House of Assembly passed a bill for a law to amend the Edo State Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs Law 2000.

The passage of the bill was a sequel to the presentation and consideration of the report of the house committee on local government during plenary.

The Majority leader and member representing Ikpoba-Okha, Hon. Henry Okhuarobo moved a motion for the house to resolve into a committee of the whole to consider the report.

The motion was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Roland Asoro.

The chairman of the committee, on. Ephraim Aluebhosele representing (PDP Igueben) presented the report to the house

Hon. Aluebhosele told the house that findings revealed that there was a disparity in grade levels of directors in local government and their counterparts in the state civil service.

He added that while a director working at the local government council retires at grade 16, others at the state civil service retire at grade level 17.

The committee, therefore, recommended the harmonization of the grade levels of directors at both local government and state services

The lawmakers unanimously adopted the recommendation of the committee to amend Section 64 of the Principal Law by the addition of Sub-Section 64(h).

The new law provided that directors at the local government service would henceforth be at par with their counterparts in the state civil service on grade level 17.

The new law also provided that the Heads of service of local government administration shall be integrated into the consolidated salary grade equivalent to that of permanent secretaries in the state civil service.

Also at the plenary, the House approved the request of governor Godwin Obaseki that the sum chargeable on the fixed and AD Valorem Stamp duties be fixed at N5,200 and two percent respectively line with the current reality.

Meanwhile, the speaker,  Marcus Onobun has directed the Ad-hoc committee constituted to screen commissioner nominees, to expedite action and ensure its report was ready on February 7.