Imo New Govt Bill Scales Second Reading

A special bill on the establishment of a community council government in Imo State, has passed second reading at the State House of Assembly. Kick-starting the debate on the bill, Hon. Ikenna Emeh representing Isu State constituency x-rayed the benefits associated with such a creation.

Hon. Emeh, said the establishment of a community council Government (4th tier Government) would facilitate even an effective development in the state and assured that the sustenance of those communities would be done by the state. He explained  that the necessity of backing up such a newly administrative creation in the state with a law was to make it authentic.

Others who supported in favour of the bill included Hon. Ikechukwu Amuka representing Ideato South, Hon. Acho Ihim representing Okigwe State constituency, Hon. Stan Dara and Hon. Simeon Iwunze who represents Isiala Mbano State Constituency.

While Hon. Amuka hinged his support on the drastic transformation of the state by the state governor, Hon. Acho Ihim lent his support to the bill on Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Rescue Mission Agenda. Hon. Simeon Iwunze in a slight dimensional format, alerted his colleagues on the interchangeable use of the words – community government and community council in the bill and the purported confusion they might likely bring.

Hon. Iwunze advised his colleagues to streamline the functions of the community council members in the bill in order not to incur a duty clash between the workers in the local government areas and the community council workers. He equally counselled his colleagues on the need to separate the revenue collection \collectors of the local Government Areas from those of the community council when fully operational.

Prior to this period, Government of Okorocha had not hidden his intention to create a community council (4th tier government) that should consist of the Ezes, town union president general, the community speakers, women leaders and youth leaders via a general election that would come up in April this year.

Though, some APGA oppositional members have not been at peace with such a recent development from the governor, they argued that such a newly administrative creation is not in line with the Nigerian constitution.