The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has directed the 357 members of the transition committees to run the affairs of the 18 council areas and the 33 Local Council Development Areas in the state to assume office.
This directive comes despite the Supreme Court ruling that grants fiscal autonomy to local governments and a court verdict that nullified the creation of the LCDAs in the state.
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s order was issued after a meeting in Akure, the state capital, where he was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Amidu Takuro.
The governor instructed the committee members to take up their duties immediately in both the 18 local government areas and the 33 nullified LCDAs.
Commissioner Takuro defended the governor’s decision, emphasizing that Ondo State is not alone in facing the implications of the Supreme Court’s verdict. He pointed out that conducting a local government election requires adherence to the Electoral Act and cannot be rushed. He stated, “No fewer than 21 states are affected and this is not peculiar to Ondo State alone.”
The commissioner added, “The governors will be meeting in Abuja during the week and there is still room for negotiations and there’s no need for rush. Judgement does not take immediate effect, even at that, we cannot conduct local government election immediately. There are procedures for election, so, we will study the judgement. Again, the Federal Government will not want to punish the local government workers by withholding their salaries or getting their allocation to them, though we have no option than to concur with the judgement, it cannot be immediately.”
In response to the governor’s directive, Kayode Taiwo, the chairman of Akure East LCDA, and other transition members confirmed that they have assumed office. One member, speaking anonymously to Vanguard, stated, “all the new appointees have been asked to resume their office. The Supreme Court judgement did not affect the appointment of the transition committee as we are only appointed to oversee the affairs of the local government. We are not elected but we are appointed in order not to create vacuum in the administration of the local government but the local government election might hold soon according to the constitution.”
The opposition People’s Democratic Party and the Labour Party in Ondo State have criticized the formation of the Transition Committee. The PDP’s state Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, condemned Aiyedatiwa’s actions, stating, “it is the height of lawlessness and impunity for Aiyedatiwa to appoint Committees for LCDAs that are non-existent in the eyes of the law.” He called for the resignation of the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, for advising the governor on this course of action.
Similarly, the Labour Party, through its Chairman Hon. Abiodun Agbaje, expressed strong opposition, saying, “Ondo Labour Party also vehemently rejected the action of the Ondo State Government for appointing new caretaker chairmen and transition committee for the 18 local governments across the state as well as the newly created 33 LCDAs which were already scrapped by a court judgement.”
In contrast, Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Kayode Ajulo, SAN, defended the governor’s decision, asserting that the appointment of Transition Committees is a constitutional right. Ajulo argued, “The Committees are intended to ensure seamless transition and continuity of government business in the affected areas. The legality of the LCDAs is currently the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, which are presently under appeal. The court has taken notice of this appeal. Therefore, the Governor’s appointment of Transition Committees is not in contempt of the court’s judgment, but rather a prudent action to ensure that the business of government continues uninterrupted in the affected areas.”
He further urged, “I urge the PDP to respect the rule of law and allow the legal process to run its full course, rather than resorting to inflammatory rhetoric. The Ondo State Government remains committed to upholding the laws of the land and ensuring good governance for all.”
