Despite the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy in the country, the transition committees in the 18 local councils and 33 local council development areas (LCDAs) of Ondo State have resumed work in their various offices.
Checks by LEADERSHIP revealed that all the chairmen have resumed a few hours after the judgement of the apex court.
The chairmen were said to have told their close allies that they would resume on the order of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Aiyedatiwa had last Thursday constituted transition committees for the 18 local government areas and 33 local council development areas in the state a few hours before the Supreme Court pronouncement on the local government autonomy.
In a statement issued by Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor’s chief press secretary, the governor said the transition committees would be in charge of the LGs’ and LCDAs’ affairs until the state LG poll is held.
The statement reads in part, “The transition committees oversee the affairs of the LGs and LCDAs in the state until the electoral body holds the local government election.”
An Akure High Court had declared the state government’s creation of the 33 local government development areas (LCDAs) unconditional and illegal.
Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye, in his verdict, described the LCDAS signed into law by late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as inchoate and not lawfully created.
The attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Kayode Ajulo, justified the governor’s position by saying the appointment of transition committees is a lawful exercise of the governor’s constitutional powers.
Ajulo maintained that the committees are intended to ensure seamless transition and government business continuity in the affected areas.
The law officer said, “The judgment of Justice A.O, Adebusuoye on June 20, 2024, only declared the Local Government Creation Law 2023 unconstitutional but did not invalidate the executive and administrative powers of the governor of Ondo State to take steps that will ensure effective and good governance of any part of the state.
“The legality of the LCDAs is currently the subject of ongoing legal proceedings 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 judgement, rather a prudent action to ensure that government business continues uninterrupted in the affected areas,” he said.
