The Nasarawa State House of Assembly commenced moves to make the tenure of elected local government area (LGA) chairs and councillors in the state three years.

Danladi Jatau, the speaker, said this on Tuesday in Lafia when the House deliberated and adopted the report of the House Standing Committee on Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs on LG Bill.

The LG Bill is entitled: A Bill for a Law to Repeal and Re-enact the Establishment, Structure, Composition, Finance, and Function of Local Government System in Nasarawa State 2024 and Other Matters Connected Thereto during the House.

The speaker slated October 30 for the third reading and passage of the executive bill into law ahead of council elections slated for Saturday.

Mr Jatau said the bill was apt, especially now that the federal government was trying to ensure that the LGAs were fully autonomous.

“The law if passed and assented to, the state shall contribute 20 per cent as grants to the Area Administrative Councils Development Account for the purpose of rural infrastructural development.

“And each local government may make contributions in the form of grants or counterpart funding to the Area Administrative Councils for the purpose of infrastructural development for the Area Administrative Councils.

“There shall be a department in each Local Government and Area Development Council to be known as Traditional Remittance Allocation Fund (TERAF) into which all remittance and disbursement shall be made directly to Traditional Councils.

“There shall be no deduction or charges in whatever form or name in the TERAF, he said.

The speaker commended the committee for a job well done and appreciated lawmakers’ positive contributions to the bill.

While presenting the report, Musa Ibrahim, the committee chairman, said the bill, if finally passed, would promote grassroots development.

The bill also recommended that there shall be monthly or quarterly meetings of the Area Administrative Council Management Committee to be called (ACAC)

“Administrative Council Account Committee will be responsible for the purpose of distribution of funds meant for Rural Development,” he said.

Earlier, the deputy majority leader of the House, Abel YaBala, moved a motion for the adoption of the committee’s report.

Luka Zhekaba, the minority leader of the House, seconded the motion.

The House unanimously adopted the committee’s report.

In a related development, the House passed into law A Bill for a Law to Repeal and Re-enact the Nasarawa State Electricity Power Agency Law, 2018.

It seeks to re-enact Nasarawa State Electricity Generation, Transmission, System Operation, Distribution and Supply, Commission and for Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2024.

Mr Jatau announced the passage of the bill during the House proceedings on Tuesday in Lafia.

He said the bill, if assented to, would empower the state government to generate and distribute electricity to overcome the problem of poor power supply.

The speaker directed the House clerk to produce a clean copy of the Bill for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s assent.

 (NAN)