AGF: Governors Lack Authority to Suspend Local Government Chairmen
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has faulted the Edo State House of Assembly for suspending the chairpersons of the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the minister said that it was only the legislative arm of local governments that could sack or place council chairmen on suspension.
He said that under the current dispensation, local government chairmen cannot just be removed or suspended by any governor without following due process of law.
Fagbemi stated that state houses of assembly lack the power to suspend or remove council chairpersons.
On Tuesday, the Edo State House of Assembly suspended the chairpersons and their deputies for two months over alleged gross misconduct.
The Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, said Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, had written a petition to the assembly regarding the chairpersons’ refusal to submit the financial records of their councils to the state government.
